Gold Extracted from Wastewater as an Efficient MOF-Supported Electrocatalyst.

Abstract

The recovery of gold from wastewater is necessary from both environmental and economic standpoints. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can serve as high-capacity and selective adsorbents, as shown in a recent work by Zhao and co-workers. Their novel three-dimension cationic framework goes further than selectively adsorbing AuCl4 - . It also serves as a stable platform to transform adsorbed gold into an efficient catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 . This work highlights the versatility of MOFs, which can serve as selective adsorbents and as a support for nanoparticle catalysts.