Selective anionic dye adsorption by a new water-tolerant nickel-based coordination polymer

A new water-tolerant nickel-based coordination polymer (Ni-PDC) was prepared by facile precipitation method employing 1,3-propanedicarboxylic acid (PDC) and nickel acetate. The prepared coordination polymer was utilized in the adsorptive removal of anionic (Congo red and methyl orange) and cationic dyes (methylene blue and rhodamine B) from aqueous solutions. The obtained data demonstrated that Ni-PDC is an efficient adsorbent for removing anionic dyes from aqueous solution with high efficiency and fast kinetic. The prepared Ni-PDC was found to be very effective for removing anionic dyes as Congo red eliminated from the aqueous solution more than 96% during the first 2 mins. Moreover, the pH has not remarkable effect on the removal efficiency of Congo red by Ni-PDC and thus neutral pH is the best medium for its adsorption. The Ni-PDC can be recovered after desorbing organic dyes, and the removal efficiency was found to be nearly unchanged after four cycles.