Bifunctional Ionic Covalent Organic Networks for Enhanced Simultaneous Removal of Chromium(VI) and Arsenic(V) Oxoanions via Synergetic Ion Exchange and Redox Process

Chromium (VI) and arsenic (V) oxoanions are major toxic heavy metal pollutants in water threatening both human health and environmental safety. Herein, the development is reported of a bifunctional ionic covalent organic network (iCON) with integrated guanidinium and phenol units to simultaneously sequester chromate and arsenate in water via a synergistic ion‐exchange‐redox process. The guanidinium groups facilitate the ion‐exchange‐based adsorption of chromate and arsenate at neutral pH with fast kinetics and high uptake capacity, whereas the integrated phenol motifs mediate the Cr(VI)/Cr(III) redox process that immobilizes chromate and promotes the adsorption of arsenate via the formation of Cr(III)‐As(V) cluster/complex. The synergistic ion‐exchange‐redox approach not only pushes high adsorption efficiency for both chromate and arsenate but also upholds a balanced Cr/As uptake ratio regardless of the change in concentration and the presence of interfering oxoanions. Integration of the anion‐receptor guanidinium and redox‐active phenol functionalities in the context of an ionic covalent organic network (iCON) promotes a synergistic ion‐exchange‐redox process that can effectively sequester chromate and arsenate simultaneously in water regardless of the concentration and presence of other interfering oxoanions.