Fabrication of a Metal‐Organic Framework Composite Modified with Biomass Activated Carbon (BAC) and Functionalized with NH2 for Efficient p‐Nitrophenol Adsorption

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, a class of low‐cost, hydrophobic commercial activated carbon (AC) and biomass activated carbon (BAC) modified, NH2 functionalized NH2‐MIL‐53(Al)@(B)AC adsorbents with different AC loading (0∼15 %) was prepared via taking advantages of the MIL‐53(Al), (B)AC−NH2 group. The as‐prepared composites were used for phenolic adsorption. The results indicated that the removal rate of para‐nitrophenol (PNP) over NH2‐MIL‐53(Al)@AC‐10 % was 83.6 %, which is improved by 40.1 % when compared to that of parent NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) (59.4 %). This shows that combination of NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) with AC is an efficient approach to develop an adsorbent with remarkable adsorption capacity. The outstanding adsorption performance of NH2‐MIL‐53(Al)@AC adsorbent originated from the increased surface area and pore structure as well as modified surface property owing to the cooperation of NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) and AC. When BAC was fabricated on NH2‐MIL‐53(Al) instead of AC, the removal rate was further increased to 95.5 %. The adsorption capacity for PNP over NH2‐MIL‐53(Al)@BAC‐10 % is 181 mg g−1 in low concentration range (co=75∼300 mg L−1), which is superior to those reported in most literature. The mechanism for the strong adsorption performance of PNP onto NH2‐MIL‐53(Al)@(B)AC related to the π‐π and acid‐base interactions, and hydrophobic effect.