Facile fabrication of tunable porous zirconium fumarate based metal organic frameworks in the retention of nutrients from water

Abstract

The hydrothermal technique plays a vital role in adsorption studies as it can improve the surface nature of adsorbent materials. The present investigation is focused on the fabrication of a higher valence zirconium (Zr⁴⁺) coordinated fumaric acid (Fu) (Zr@Fu)-based metal–organic framework (MOF), namely Zr@Fu MOF composite for nutrients (nitrate (NO₃⁻) and phosphate (PO₄³⁻)) removal from water. The prepared Zr@Fu MOF composite possesses the enhanced nitrate and phosphate sorption capacities (SCs) of 43.97 and 56.41 mg g⁻¹ respectively at 30 min. The adsorption responsible parameters, such as contact time, pH, dosage, temperature, and co-anions were optimized in a batch mode. The synthesized MOFs were characterized using numerous instrumentation techniques, such as FTIR, BET, SEM and EDAX studies. The nature, order and feasibility of the adsorption were examined using isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. The SCs of the Zr@Fu MOF composite towards NO₃⁻ and PO₄³⁻ were compared with the reported adsorbents in the market. The reuse recovery and field applicability studies of Zr@Fu MOF composite were also performed.