Removal of lead ions from water using thiophene-functionalized metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

Heavy metal ion contamination in water is a hazard to all life. The removal of such ions from aqueous media by porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is a growing field. Herein we report the use of thiophene containing MOFs, notably DUT-67, for the removal of Pb²⁺ ions from water under both batch and flow conditions with a max loading of 98.5 mg Pb²⁺ per g MOF. Solution-phase ²⁰⁷Pb NMR spectroscopy and an observed decrease in adsorption with non-thiophene containing systems support a mechanism of adsorption via a putative 6π-η⁵-thiophene–Pb²⁺ coordination.