High-quality Al@Fe-MOF prepared using Fe-MOF as a micro-reactor to improve adsorption performance for selenite

[Display omitted] •Fe-MOF pore volume was sacrificed to improve adsorption performance for selenite.•High-quality Al@Fe-MOF was prepared with an economic, safe and green method.•Compared to Fe-MOF, selenite adsorption capacity of Al@Fe-MOF increased greatly.•Selenite adsorption by Al@Fe-MOF was almost not affected by pH from 3.0 to 7.0. High-quality Al@Fe-MOF was prepared by in situ modification of Fe-MOF with Al3+ to improve the adsorption performance for selenite (Se(Ⅳ)). The structures and properties of Al@Fe-MOF were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen isothermal adsorption-desorption measurement and zeta potential. The adsorption performance of Al@Fe-MOF for Se(Ⅳ) was studied by batch adsorption experiments. A large number of pores in Al@Fe-MOF were filled by AlOOH and some bayerite formed on the surfaces. Compared with those of Fe-MOF, the specific surface area (SSA) and microporosity of Al@Fe-MOF decreased to 1368 m2/g and 38.5%, respectively. Hydrolysis occurred at pH > 5.0 for Fe-MOF, but did not for Al@Fe-MOF at the pH range of 3.0–7.0. Compared with in Fe-MOF, the adsorption capacity and efficiency of SSA for Se(Ⅳ) were increased by 77% and 112%, and the average free energy of adsorption was increased to 11.62 kJ/mol in Al@Fe-MOF. Besides, the Se(Ⅳ) adsorption amount of Al@Fe-MOF was almost not influenced by the pH from 3.0 to 7.0. The high resolution XPS (HR-XPS) and pH analysis indicated that Al species in Al@Fe-MOF could significantly increase the density of adsorption sites to improve its adsorption capacity for Se(Ⅳ).