Assembly of a three‐dimensional Cu‐MOF for efficient Fenton‐like degradation of dyes and iodine capture

Abstract

A three‐dimensional Cu‐MOF (XJU‐1) was synthesized based on 5‐((4‐[1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl]benzyl)amino)isophthalic acid ligand (H3L), which showed excellent performance for Fenton‐like degradation of organic dyes (rhodamine B [RhB], methylene blue [MB], methyl orange [MO], methyl violet [MV], congo red [CR], malachite green [MG], xylenol orange [XO]). The results demonstrated that XJU‐1 could efficiently activate H2O2 to achieve 100% removal of RhB and MB with the initial concentration of 10 mg/L under 10 W light‐emitting diode ultraviolet light irradiation within 7 and 6 min, respectively. The possible degradation mechanism was investigated via active species capture experiments, electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement, and the electrochemical analyses. The hydroxyl radical (•OH) was the principal active specie at the whole process, whereas superoxide radical (•O2−), singlet oxygen (1O2) could boost the Fenton‐like reaction for the mineralization of RhB and MB dyes. Possible degradation pathways of RhB and MB were assumed based on the testing results of intermediates. The studies showed that the XJU‐1 still maintained an excellent efficiency for RhB and MB degradation after five cycles. In addition, the iodine capture of XJU‐1 in cyclohexane solution was investigated, the results showed that XJU‐1 had excellent adsorption performance for iodine, and the maximum adsorption capacity was about 368 mg/g.