Fabrication of highly porous MOF/cellulose beads for sustained degradation of dye

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received widespread attention in recent years. However, the powder form of MOFs limits their large-scale applications. To facilitate the application of MOFs, mass production and shaped manufacturing of MOFs is significantly effective. Herein, a generic method based on a simple polymerization technique is proposed to prepare highly porous MOF–cellulose composite beads and the application of these composite beads in dye removal and recovery is displayed. Non-toxic solvent water and biodegradable sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were used as raw materials in the synthesis method. In addition to maintaining the crystallinity and porosity of the MOFs embedded in the cellulose matrix, the unique three-dimensional lamellar interconnected structure provides good mechanical properties for the composite beads. To demonstrate the practicality of these composite beads, a recycling processing system was built as a proof-of-concept device. MIL-100/CMC-HD can effectively degrade more than 95% of the dye and can be recycled multiple times. The superiority of the MOF–cellulose composite beads is highlighted by their ease of recycling and storage compared to MOF powder.

Graphical abstract

MOF/carboxymethylcellulose porous composite beads are synthesized in a simple one-step process. The lamellar interconnected structure not only facilitates the diffusion of contaminants in water but also provides good mechanical properties.