Upcycling of Organic and Inorganic Waste into MIL-88B(Fe) at Room Temperature for Tetracycline Degradation

Upcycling organic and inorganic waste into value-added metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) presents a sustainable strategy for mitigating waste pollution and promoting economic viability. However, rapid synthesis of MOF materials derived from actual industrial waste under mild conditions remains challenging. Herein, Fe-MOF MIL-88B(Fe) was successfully fabricated within 1 h at room temperature using galvanizing pickling waste liquid and terephthalic acid derived from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate). The resulting Fe-MOF (<i>s</i>-MIL-88B(Fe)) was employed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) under UV light irradiation, achieving over 87% degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) within 15 min. The effects of the reaction parameters on TCH degradation were thoroughly investigated. <i>s</i>-MIL-88B(Fe) demonstrated good stability and reusability, maintaining 96% of the initial activity after five cycles. The system also demonstrated adaptability to various organic pollutants and water matrices. Radicals (SO₄^-•) and nonradicals (¹O₂, h⁺) identified as the key reactive species promoted TCH degradation. The formation mechanism of reactive species and the degradation pathway of TCH are proposed. Toxicity evaluation verified the reduced toxicity after the degradation. This work provides a sustainable approach to upcycling industrial waste into MOF-based materials for efficient environmental remediation under mild conditions.