Understanding the Mechanism for Adsorption of Pb(II) Ions by Cu-BTC Metal–Organic Frameworks

With the growing population, industrialization, and agriculture, water contamination not only affects people but entire ecosystems. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), because of their large surface area porosity, show great potential as adsorbents for removing pollutants, such heavy metals, from contaminated water. The current research aims at examining copper (II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC) MOFs understanding mechanism adsorption Pb(II) aqueous solution. Cu-BTC samples were characterized using FTIR XRD, porosity determined based on N2 isotherms. concentration in solutions was measured atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Both kinetic equilibrium data collected then analyzed numerical models. analyses led to findings that limiting steps are (a) pore diffusion (b) availability active sites MOFs. It further revealed former step is more dominant when lead low. latter step, which directly proportional areas MOFs, a greater extent high. results also ions mainly multi-layer heterogeneous process.