Efficient Removal of Pb(II), Cr(VI), and Tetracycline Hydrochloride from Aqueous Solutions Using UiO-66-AMP@PAN: Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Isothermal Adsorption

Abstract

The removal of heavy metal ions and medical antibiotics from wastewater is crucial for environmental protection and human health. However, the adsorption capacities and reusability of previously reported adsorbent materials have been insufficient for efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. In this study, we present a composite material, UiO-66-AMP@PAN, synthesized from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN), which exhibits superior adsorption properties and reusability. The material demonstrates excellent adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions Pb(II) and Cr(VI) as well as the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), among which the maximum adsorption capacities for Pb(II)(pH=7) and Cr(VI)(pH=5) and antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) (pH=9) were 455.8 mg/g, 442.08 mg/g and 405.92 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption efficiency of UiO-66-AMP@PAN as an adsorbent for adsorbing Pb(II)(pH=7) and Cr(VI)(pH=5) and the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) (pH=9) remained above 90% even after ten consecutive cycles. The performance of UiO-66-AMP@PAN as an adsorbent has remained unchanged across multiple adsorption-desorption cycles, demonstrating its potential for long-term use in wastewater treatment applications. This innovative approach paves the way for the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly adsorption materials to address the challenges posed by heavy metal ions in wastewater and medical antibiotics.