Magnetic Metal Organic Framework-Based Nanocomposite as an Efficient Magneto-Adsorbent for Rapid Congo Red Removal and Germination Toxicity Assessment in Cicer arietinum

Abstract

The quality of water decreases due to hazardous pollutants such as dyes, including Congo red (CR), a nonbiodegradable, toxic, and synthetic azo dye commonly used in paper, textile, chemical industries, etc. Therefore, removing CR from water is essential. Adsorption using an effective adsorbent is highly efficient for remediation of organic dye molecules. In this work, a cost-effective magnetite nanoparticle@zirconium benzenedicarboxylate (Fe₃O₄/Zr-BDC MOF) nanocomposite was synthesized hydrothermally for the removal of CR. As per our knowledge, the synthesized Fe₃O₄/Zr-BDC MOF nanocomposite for CR removal has not been reported yet. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, characterizations were performed to determine material property. The maximum adsorption efficiency of Fe₃O₄/Zr-BDC MOF was 96% for 20 parts per million (ppm) of CR in 5 min. The reusability of Fe₃O₄/Zr-BDC MOF was also observed over five successive adsorption cycles. The effect on seed germination assay was performed on Cicer arietinum (black gram) seeds to assess the dye toxicity before and after adsorption. The magnetic and highly porous properties of the synthesized Fe₃O₄/Zr-BDC MOF nanocomposite make them synergistically more effective and efficient toward the adsorption and removal of CR dye.