Imprinting defective Fe-based metal-organic frameworks as an excellent platform for selective fenton/persulfate degradation of LEX: Removal performance and mechanism

Synergistic adsorption and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is being considered as an effective strategy to solve the poor catalytic performance and incomplete mineralization of pollutants currently faced by traditional AOPs and adsorption techniques. However, the poor adsorption-specificity/catalytic performance of catalyst needs to be improved. Herein, a daidzein imprinted defective Fe-MOF (Fe-MOF-DMIP) was successfully developed. Due to its enhanced hydrogen-bond/hydrophobic interaction and pore-filling effect, Fe-MOF-DMIP can selectively adsorb levofloxacin (Qmax was 315.31 mg g−1). The acid-stability of Fe-MOF-DMIP in water was improved and pH can be expanded to 3–11. Attributed to the enhanced Fe cycle and mass transfer efficiency, Fe-MOF-DMIP could efficiently active H2O2/persulfate, resulting in the removal rate of levofloxacin reached 98.4%/82.4% (H2O2/persulfate). The synergistic mechanism of adsorption@degradation and degradation pathway were also expounded. This work provided a new strategy for developing multifunctional catalysts, and emphasized the importance of paying attention to the types of free radicals produced in AOPs. [Display omitted] •Introducing imprinting strategy greatly increased the adsorption selectivity of LEX.•Formed defects could enhanced Fe (III)/Fe (II) cycle and mass transfer efficiency.•Fe-MOF-DMIP exhibited enhanced pH (3−10) stability.•Synergy adsorption@degradation strategy significantly improved the removal of LEX.•Fe-MOF-DMIP show excellent RSE (69.3%) in PS activation.