Robust and anti-biofouling bio-based aerogel with Schiff base network stabilized MOFs for efficient removal of tartrazine dye and U(VI) ions

Tartrazine (TAR), widely used as a synthetic food dye, and U(VI), primarily originating from nuclear industry effluents, pose serious environmental and health risks due to their toxicity and persistence. However, many existing adsorbents suffer from low capacity, poor stability, and limited reusability. Herein, A bio-based aerogel adsorbent (NDC) with a stable three-dimensional porous network structure was prepared through a Schiff base reaction between dialdehyde-functionalized nanocellulose fibrils (DNCFs), chitosan (CS), and aminated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The synergistic effect of MOFs , DNCFs, and CS resulted in high adsorption capacities of 689.66 mg/g for TAR and 285.72 mg/g for U(VI) at a temperature of 303 K, respectively. Additionally, the Schiff base chemical bonds firmly anchored the MOFs in the NDC aerogel, providing a compressive strength of 547.4 kPa at 70 % strain. Furthermore, due to the antibacterial properties of the amino groups on CS and MOFs, the NDC aerogel demonstrated excellent anti-biofouling performance. The results suggest that bio-based NDC aerogel is an efficient and prospective for the removal of TAR and U(VI) from wastewater as an adsorbent.