Porous metal-organic framework-acrylamide-chitosan composite aerogels: Preparation, characterization and adsorption mechanism of azo anionic dyes adsorbed from water

Micro- and nano-metal-organic frameworks with different adsorption properties were prepared by a time-modulation hydrothermal method. By comparing the adsorption properties, the most effective MIL-68(Fe)-12 was selected to be mixed with chitosan (CS), and porous metal-organic framework-acrylamide-chitosan composite aerogel (PMACA) was prepared by introducing acrylamide prior to glutaraldehyde crosslinking. The adsorption capacity of PMACA doped with acrylamide was as high as 2086.44 mg·g-1. The adsorption performance of PMACA was 1.48 times higher compared to the porous metal-organic framework-chitosan composite aerogel (PMCA) undoped with acrylamide. With the introduction of acrylamide, the stability of PMACA was improved, making it less prone to dispersion and decomposition. Structural characterization and adsorption properties were analyzed using methods such as XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM, BET, and Zeta potential. The adsorption performance of PMACA was investigated further through batch tests with variables such as adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, initial CR solution concentration, and temperature. The model fitting of PMACA was consistent with the pseudo-second-order model and the Sips model. The adsorption thermodynamics showed that high temperature promoted spontaneous adsorption behavior. PMACA showed a recovery rate of approximately 86 % after six cyclic adsorption tests. PMACA maintained a recovery rate of roughly 86 % after six cyclic adsorption tests. The combined effects of electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π conjugation resulted in excellent adsorption performance, while pore filling also contributed to the efficient adsorption of Congo red (CR).