Abstract:
Herein, a metal–organic framework (MIL-101(Cr)) was synthesized and functionalized with ethylenediamineglutaraldehyde
(ED-GA for removal of palladium (Pd2+) and platinum (Pt4+) from wastewater. The chemical
structure, surface properties, morphology, and adsorption energy of the prepared materials, MIL-101(Cr) and
MIL-101(Cr)/ED-GA were analyzed using several analytical techniques and density functional theory (DFT). The
prepared MIL-101(Cr)/ED-GA was efficient in removing Pd2+ and Pt4+ from aqueous solution with the percentage
removal reaching 95% for Pd2+ and 85% for Pt4+. Furthermore, the adsorption data demonstrated a
good fit to the Langmuir isotherm model and gave the maximum adsorption capacity values of 416.17 mg g 1 for
Pt4+ and and 322.6 mg g 1 for Pd2+ ions. Kinetics data obeyed a pseudo-second-order model and revealed the
rapid adsorption of Pd2+ and Pt4+ ions by MIL-101(Cr)/ED-GA which reached equilibrium within 10 and 40 min,
respectively. Lastly, DFT studies revealed that the adsorption of Pd2+ ions by the composite forms a more
thermodynamically stable compound than adsorption of Pt4+, suggesting that the material easily interacts with
Pd and high selectivity is thus expected. This was indeed confirmed by experimental selectivity test results.
Owing to their high affinity for PGMs, N atoms depicted large adsorption energy values compared to other
adsorption sites. The MIL-101(Cr)/ED-GA could act as an efficient and cost effective adsorbent for removal of
platinum group metals from wastewater.
