Room-temperature synthesis of bimetallic ZnCu-MOF-74 as an adsorbent for tetracycline removal from an aqueous solution

The novel bimetallic MOF, ZnCu-MOF-74, has been evaluated for the remediation of tetracycline-contaminated water. ZnCu-MOF-74 was obtained at room temperature, avoiding high pressure and temperature. ZnCu-MOF-74 exhibited chemical stability in the 4-8 pH range. The adsorption result analysis was described using the Elovich kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, suggesting a physicochemical process. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated at 775.66 mg g −1 . The pH of the solution and the presence of ions such as NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , Na + , Mg 2+ , Cl − , and Ca 2+ had no influence on the removal of tetracycline. In addition, π-interactions and metal complexation were proposed as possible adsorption mechanisms through FT-IR and XPS. ZnCu-MOF-74 showed outstanding cyclability performance, preserving its adsorption capacity after 4 adsorption-desorption cycles, besides exhibiting chemical stability, proving the benefits of applying ZnCu-MOF-74 in the water treatment process. Tetracycline water remediation employing the bimetallic MOF ZnCu-MOF-74 synthesized at room temperature exhibits excellent performance, stability, and cyclability.