Metal-organic framework-derived LaFeO3@C: An adsorbent for removing organic dyes from water

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived materials are emerging as a potential candidate in the field of adsorption owing to their vital properties of high surface area, tunable porosity and diverse functionalities. However, the instability of MOFs in harsh environmental conditions prompted to produce more stable forms of MOF-derived materials for adsorption applications. Carbonization of MOFs is becoming an efficient method to prepare stable metal oxide-carbon hybrids as adsorbents for pollutant removal. This study presents the first-time report on utilizing MIL-100(Fe)-derived mesoporous LaFeO3@C nanocomposites for the effective adsorption removal of methyl orange (MO) and sulforhodamine B (SRB). The nanocomposites having different surface chemistry and textural properties are formed from MOF-gel precursor by varying the calcination temperature in the argon atmosphere. The LaFeO3 nanoparticles in the nanocomposites crystallized into the orthorhombic structure, which is confirmed from the XRD, Micro-Raman and FTIR analysis. The material obtained at 700 °C (LFO@C-700) exhibited higher removal efficiency of 99% and 97.1% towards SRB and MO, respectively. The chemisorption is identified as the main rate-limiting step in adsorption and the isotherm follows the Langmuir model suggesting the monolayer coverage of the adsorbates. The successful elimination of dye contaminants from real water samples and industrial effluents by LFO@C-700 indicates the practical utility of this adsorbent material. Several key chemical interactions, including H-bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π and cation-π interactions promote the adsorption process. Moreover, the LFO@C-700 nanocomposite shows reusability with sustainable adsorption for repeated experiment cycles, suggesting this adsorbent's cost-effective use in practical applications.