Interface synthesis of Cu-BTC/PVDF hybrid membranes and their selective adsorption activity toward Congo red

Abstract

Considering the surface affinity of MOFs and separation advantages of polymer membranes, herein, a one-step interface synthesis strategy is used in the construction of Cu-BTC/PVDF hybrid membranes, in which Cu²⁺ ions and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H₃BTC) were dissolved in ionized water and n-octanol separately, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films were laid at the interface of two immiscible solvents. As a result, Cu-BTC was generated and readily self-assembled inside the PVDF films. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method were used to characterize Cu-BTC/PVDF hybrid membranes, and Congo red (CR) was selected as the target dye to evaluate the surface adsorption activity of the hybrid membranes. Batch adsorption tests under various conditions were conducted to optimize the adsorption capacity, adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics, which were analyzed to further explore the adsorption behavior. Based on this, the adsorption mechanism was discussed. It is worth noting that because of the π–π stacking interaction and hydrogen bonding, an extraordinary adsorption capacity of CR was achieved, and the good separation advantage and the cyclic adsorption performances endow the resulting Cu-BTC/PVDF hybrid membranes with promising applications in the removal of organic dyes from practical wastewater.