Preparation of Novel Porous PES / ZIF ‐8 Composite Polymer Beads for Efficient Heavy Metal Ions Removal in Water

ABSTRACT The problem of heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems is becoming increasingly critical. ZIF ‐8 is a representative metal–organic framework ( MOF ) that exhibits exemplary Cu 2+ adsorption characteristics and is amenable to large‐scale synthesis. However, the inherent crystalline powder morphology of MOF materials has led to great difficulty in recycling them for use as adsorbents in practical applications. Therefore, exploring methods to prepare MOF materials into composite adsorbents that can be easily applied in practical scenarios is essential for the large‐scale application of MOF materials. In this work, we have developed a composite material comprising polyethersulfone ( PES ) and ZIF ‐8 through a non‐solvent induced phase separation process. The PES / ZIF ‐8 polymer beads enhanced the dispersibility and stability of ZIF ‐8 in aqueous solutions, while also improving the quality of the adsorbent recovery process. It is worthy of note that PES / ZIF ‐8(0.6) exhibits a high adsorption capacity for Cu 2+ and Ag + , reaching 349.31 and 476.30 mg g −1 , respectively, according to Langmuir fitting. Furthermore, PES / ZIF ‐8(0.6) displays remarkable selectivity for Cu 2+ , with coefficients α Cu 2 + /Ag + , α Cu 2 + /Co 2+ and α Cu 2 + /Ni 2+ for Ag + , Co 2+ and Ni 2+ being 80.69, 174.95 and 612.31, respectively. This study presents a novel approach for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater through the introduction of MOF ‐polymer composites.