From pollution to solution: Optimized UiO-66 based metal-organic framework for environmental cleanup

Metal-organic framework (MOF) is known as an advanced material with high surface area and porosity and emerging for environmental remediation. In this study, a sustainable zirconium-based MOF, known as UiO-66 was synthesized using zirconium oxynitrate as a chloride-less metal precursor and organic linker from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). Synthesis parameters were optimized via Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and achieved the maximum BET surface area of 755 m²/g. To evaluate for microplastic removal, the UiO-66 were incorporated into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based mixed-matrix membranes (MMM). The properties and characterizations including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman Spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis, confirmed the structure and composition of the materials. Filtration test demonstrated up to 105 ± 0.57 % removal efficiency against polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), act as microplastic suspension. This work presents a sustainable approach to convert plastic waste into functional MOF and offer a green and effective strategy for environmental cleanup applications.