ADSORPTION KINETICS OF ZINC-BASED METAL – ORGANIC FRAMEWORK IN THE REMOVAL OF MICROPOLLUTANTS

In this study, we report the synthesis of a zinc-based metal-organic framework (MOF) incorporating terephthalaldehyde as a linker, aimed at the efficient removal of Rhodamine B dye from aqueous solutions. The synthesized MOF, denoted as Zn-Tereph-MOF, was prepared via a solvothermal method, which involved the reaction of zinc nitrate hexahydrate with terephthalaldehyde in a mixed solvent system. Characterization of Zn-Tereph-MOF was performed using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) to check the nature and particle size of the catalyst. Adsorption studies revealed that Zn-Tereph-MOF exhibits a remarkable capacity for Rhodamine B uptake, attributed to the synergy between the high surface area, favorable pore size, and the interaction between the dye molecules and the framework. Kinetic and isothermal analyses indicated that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting monolayer adsorption. These findings highlight the potential of Zn-Tereph-MOF as an effective adsorbent for the removal of organic dyes from wastewater, contributing to environmental remediation efforts.