Synergistic Adsorption–Photocatalysis based on Magnetic Metal–Organic Framework Nanoplatforms for Organic Pollutant Removal

Abstract

Organic pollutant control is a highly significant global concern regarding human health and environmental remediation. Designing highly efficient photocatalysts for use in the removal of organic pollutants in the environment has attracted great interest in recent years. Here, a class of metal–organic framework nanoplatforms based on Fe3O4@UiO-66 with versatile combination modes are designed and synthesized for the effective detoxification of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), one of the high-risk mycotoxins. The composite systems achieved efficient adsorption and photodegradation of AFB1, benefiting from UiO-66’s porous structure and Fe3O4’s catalytic enhancement. A high AFB1 degradation rate of up to 90% is obtained upon using these hybrid materials. The abundant hydroxyl-free radicals produced during the photocatalytic process drive the disruption of the AFB1 structure and thereby reduce its toxicity. In addition, SL- and LS-Fe3O4@UiO-66 catalysts can be facilely recycled, maintaining more than 80% of the catalytic capacity after three cycles. Moreover, these magnetic nanocatalysts have also demonstrated excellent generalizability, achieving over 90% removal of several organic contaminants including pesticides and dyes in solution.