Exploring a Functionalized Metal‐Organic Framework for Advanced Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants

Abstract The potential of nanoparticles in water purification has recently garnered attention. Developing a rapid and effective approach to remove inorganic and organic contaminants from water remains a significant environmental and public health challenge. Here, we present an economical method to synthesize a metal‐organic framework (MOF) using hydrothermal and in situ methods. Graphene oxide (GO) was combined with citric acid, which served as a ligand for Zn ions, forming GO‐citric acid‐based Zn MOFs. GO and citric acid were treated with a base to generate hydroxyl ions on the surface, facilitating Zn ion incorporation. Various methods analyzed the nanocomposite's structure and morphology. It degraded the cationic dye methylene blue in water at 75 ppm, achieving 96.96% degradation in 40 min. The nanocomposite showed effectiveness at alkaline pH and elevated temperatures. It remained stable and reusable for five cycles, showing pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. COD was determined at 148 mg/L, indicating effective photocatalytic dye degradation.