Preparation of magnetic metal-organic frameworks with high binding capacity for removal of two fungicides from aqueous environments

A novel kind of Zr-based magnetic metal-organic frameworks (MMOFs) was prepared by immobilization of UiO-66 onto Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 particles via an efficient one-pot solvothermal method. Subsequently, it was used for adsorptive removal of triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) fungicides from aqueous environments by magnetic solid phase separation. Morphology and physical/chemical features of the MMOFs were fully characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and VSM etc., showing high specific surface area, appropriate functionality, and desirable magnetic property. Several main factors affecting the adsorption performances of TCS and TCC on the MMOFs were systematically investigated and optimized, such as pH value of water sample, amounts/types of adsorbent and salinity. Under the optimized conditions, short adsorption equilibrium time (only 25   min) and outstanding saturated adsorption capacities (476.27 and 602.40   mg·g −1 for TCS and TCC, respectively) were the remarkable superiorities of the MMOFs compared with that of most reported adsorbents. The MMOFs demonstrated excellent adsorption selectivity for TCS and TCC and anti-interference ability. Also, the reusability for at least 11 cycles was another major profit of the MMOFs that saved cost and prevented waste. Moreover, the MMOFs demonstrated satisfactory removal/purification ability for actual environmental water samples. These benefits propounded a promising outlook of employing the MMOFs for influential removal of pollutants with considerable reliability in the field of wastewater treatment.