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Upcycling of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate bottles into aluminum-based metal-organic framework adsorbents for efficient orthophosphate removal
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Scientists found a clever way to turn used plastic water bottles into a material that soaks up a stubborn pollutant called PBTC, which is used in industrial water treatment and doesn't break down easily in rivers and lakes. This "recycled" filter material worked impressively well at removing the chemical from water, offering a two-in-one win: less plastic waste and cleaner water supplies. While this study focused on removing an industrial chemical rather than microplastics themselves, it points to promising ways plastic waste could be repurposed to protect water quality.
2-Phosphonobutane-1,2,4,-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC) is an orthophosphate compound widely used as an antiscalant chemical and corrosion inhibitor in manufacturing. However, PBTC poses persistent environmental concerns due to its stability and resistance to conventional water treatment. In addressing the issues of PBTC in aquatic systems, Al-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed and applied as sustainable adsorbents. The materials are synthesized from terephthalic acid (TPA) linkers derived from upcycling products of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The PET-derived linker was prepared using alkaline hydrolysis followed by acidification and employed in forming MIL-53 (Al), with a comparative assessment against the corresponding MOFs made from commercial-grade TPA. The structures and properties of the materials were characterized with microscopic and spectroscopic methods. The synthesized adsorbents achieved a phosphate adsorption capacity of 826 mg/g at pH 5, with kinetics fitting a pseudo-second-order model and isotherm patterns aligning with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models, indicative of diverse adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. The results highlight the role of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding mechanisms in PBTC adsorption. The eco-friendly materials with high adsorption performance offer an innovative route for sustainable waste management and water purification.
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