Rapid tetracycline degradation driven by hydrophilic sodium alginate/bacterial cellulose aerogel anchored MIL-100

Powdered iron-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) face challenges in water treatment, specifically poor recyclability and easy agglomeration. To overcome these issues, sodium alginate (SA) and bacterial cellulose (BC) were utilized to form a composite hydrogel, and SA/BC@MIL-100 was prepared via an in-situ growth method for the rapid degradation of tetracycline (TC). The porous structure of SA/BC aerogel not only provides support for the loading of MIL-100 but also facilitates the enrichment of TC. The composite material fixes MIL-100 on the gel framework, which not only solves the problems of easy agglomeration and difficult recovery of powdered MOFs but also promotes the contact between pollutants and catalytic sites, thereby contributing to the rapid degradation of pollutants. The SA/BC@MIL-100/H₂O₂ system exhibits excellent catalytic kinetics for TC degradation, with a pseudo-first-order reaction rate constant of 0.06252 min⁻¹, markedly higher than the 0.04058 min⁻¹ observed for standalone MIL-100. The reaction system features broad pH tolerance (pH=4–10), superb anion resistance, and enhanced recyclability. This study provides a new approach for efficient removal of TC and addresses the limitations of traditional Fe-based MOFs in practical applications.