FeCo bimetallic metal organic framework nanosheets as peroxymonosulfate activator for selective oxidation of organic pollutants

Singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) and superoxide radicals (O-2(center dot-)) are active species that can selectively oxidize organic pol-lutions. A two-dimensional FeCo-based bimetallic metal organic framework (MOF) nanosheet was rationally designed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for selective oxidation of organics in water. The FeCo MOF nanosheets (FeCo-BDC) achieved a 99.1% degradation efficiency of RhB in 5 min, showing a high kinetic con-stant of 0.884 min-1 that is 1.6 and 294.7 times higher than those of the monometallic MOFs, i.e., Co-BDC and Fe-BDC. Radical scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements revealed that O-1(2) and O-2(center dot-) are predominant reactive oxygen species in the FeCo-BDC/PMS system. These nanosheets thus prefer-entially oxidize organics with electron donating groups (e.g., -NH2, -OH and-NR2), whereas having low reaction activities towards substances with electron withdrawing groups (e.g., -NO2). The oxidation process also proved to resist interference from co-existing dissolved species in water, such as Cl-, SO(4)(2-)and humic acids.

Automated summary

A FeCo-based bimetallic metal organic framework nanosheet was designed for selective oxidation of organics in water. The nanosheet exhibited high degradation efficiency and resistance to interference from co-existing dissolved species.