Engineering of appropriate pore size combined with sulfonic functionalization in a Zr-MOF with reo topology for the ultra-high removal of cationic malachite green dye from an aqueous medium

A Zr-based metal–organic framework with reo topology, denoted as Reo-MOF-1, was fabricated through a solvothermal method capable of efficiently removing the cationic MG dye from an aqueous medium. The effect of pH solution, adsorbent content, adsorption isotherm, and kinetics on the MG capture was observed to determine the optimal conditions. Accordingly, the maximum adsorption capacity of MG over H(+)⊂Reo-MOF-1 reaches the value of 2532.1 mg g(−1) at neutral pH, which is much greater than the published materials. Moreover, the results of the MG process on H(+)⊂Reo-MOF-1 fit with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic model. Hence, MG removal is a chemical adsorption process. Remarkably, H(+)⊂Reo-MOF-1 can maintain the uptake for MG at about 94% over eight cycles. The MG adsorption mechanism is interpreted via the incorporated analyses and experiments. In detail, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC) of MG⊂Reo-MOF-1 in comparison with H(+)⊂Reo-MOF-1 indicate that the electrostatic attraction and π–π stacking interaction are found via the interaction between the cationic MG ions and SO(3)(−) moieties within MOF as well as the π electron clouds in the benzene ring of the adsorbent and adsorbate, resulting in significant improvement the MG adsorption uptake. These data prove that acidified Reo-MOF-1 possesses promising application as an effective absorbent of toxic dye in practical conditions.