Photocatalyst based on composite of trimetallic metal-organic frameworks for efficient visible-light degradation in pharmaceutical pollutants abatement and process modeling using RSM

Abstract

In this study, the facile synthesis of both monometallic Co- Metal-Organic Frameworks bimetallic Ni-Co-Metal-Organic Frameworks and trimetallic Ni-Co-Cu-Metal-Organic Frameworks was successfully accomplished with the chelation method. The prepared samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), differential reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis-DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques was undertaken to examine the physicochemical attributes of the synthesized composites. The photocatalytic efficiency of the antibiotic ceftazidime(CAZ) degradation was investigated under visible light irradiation in 100 min. Kinetic studies revealed a pseudo-first-order model (50.0143, 0.009, and 0.0057 min−1 for Co-MOF, Co-Ni-MOF, and Co-Ni-Cu-MOF, respectively). Response surface methodology (RSM) demonstrated satisfactory predictability for CAZ degradation efficiency. Under optimized conditions (pH 10, 0.25 g L−1 catalyst) more than 97.38 % for the 20.0 mg L−1 of CAZ was degraded. Furthermore, the recyclability and scavenging test for the catalyst was evaluated.