Pd loaded and covalent-organic framework involved chitosan aerogels and their application for continuous flow-through aqueous CB decontamination

Abstract

We herein report a series of COF-based poroplastic chitosan aerogels via a facile templated freeze-drying approach. The obtained composite aerogels are hydrophilic, robust, uniform and processable, however, with COF crystallinity and functionalities. Specifically, by introducing Pd@COF species (up to 50 wt%), we fabricated Pd@COF@chitosan aerogels which can be used to build highly efficient continuous flow-through microreactors for chlorobenzene (CB) dechlorination in water at room temperature. Given the versatile structural, shaping, and functional features, this approach could hopefully bring COFs into practical applications, especially concerning the growing global environmental issues.