Solar-driven advanced oxidation process catalyzed by metal–organic frameworks for water depollution

Abstract phosphonate-based MOF materials namely, STA-12(M)(M= Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), show photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB)and methyl Orange (MO)from aqueous solution under natural sunlight irradiation. Thus, photo-Fenton oxidative discoloration of dyes have been surveyed by H 2 O 2 catalyzed with the STA-12(M). The degradation of the dyes, appears to be faster with STA-12(Fe) than other synthesized MOFs. The reaction is first order with respect to MO and MB dyes and the synergistic index in the STA-12(Fe)/sunlight/H 2 O 2 system reached as high as 431 %. Mineralization of dyes was discussed by spectroscopic and TOC measurement. Besides, the efficiency of STA-12(Fe) used in photo-Fenton process was attentively investigated through the characterization of reactive radicals, the stability and reusability of the photocatalyst, also the effect of operational parameters such as H 2 O 2 dosage, solution pH and initial dye concentration. This work demonstrates the first example of facilitating photo-Fenton excitation of H 2 O 2 via phosphonate based metal organic frameworks as photocatalysts and explained a new opportunity for sunlight-induced photocatalytic environmental remediation and protection.