Sacrificial Zinc Oxide Strategy-Enhanced Mesoporosity in MIL-53-Derived Iron–Carbon Composite for Methylene Blue Adsorption

MOF-derived carbon-based materials have attracted widespread attention due to their relatively large surface area, morphology, and stability in water. Considering these advantages, present themselves as excellent adsorbents. In this work, a novel method was designed for the fabrication of nano zero-valent-iron (nZVI) carbon composite. The utilization zinc oxide nanorods (ZnONRs) role sacrificial consumable nuclei synthesis MIL-53 (MIL-53-SNR) subsequent pyrolysis at 700 °C inert atmosphere led graphitic-supported nZVI material (Fe-C-SNR). Fe-C-SNR compared with commercial bulk (MIL-53-SB) pristine MIL-53. By virtue ZnONRs, exhibited greatly improved mesoporous structure. Consequently, pyrolyzed were applied adsorbents methylene blue. Fe-C-SNR’s performance increased more than double (Fe-C), remarkably fast adsorption time (10 min) concentration 10 mg L−1 only 200 adsorbent required. This functional composite also displayed exceptional recyclability; after ten complete cycles, still capable completely adsorbing ZnONRs proves itself advantageous could further be extended other MOFs wide range applications.