Beyond Adsorption: Synergistic Interfacial Dynamics and Nanoconfinement in UiO-66(Zr) Enhance Cu(II)–Carboxyl Complex Elimination via Sustainable Ligand Capture and Metal Recovery
Abstract
The removal of heavy-metal complexes (HMCs) from industrial wastewater remains challenging due to their stability and resistance to conventional methods. Here we reveal the critical yet overlooked roles of the adsorbent/adsorbate interfacial dynamics and nanoconfinement effects in governing HMC removal. Using UiO-66(Zr), a zirconium-based metal–organic framework (MOF), we demonstrate that interfacial proton transfer induces rapid acidification, decomplexing Cu(II)–carboxyl species into free copper ions and ligands. Nanoconfinement within UiO-66(Zr) octahedral cavities promotes ligand deprotonation and selective adsorption, while further released copper ions are precipitated via alkali treatment. This synergy achieves over 99.95% Cu removal, surpassing standalone methods. Fixed-bed column experiments validated its practicality, producing 1828 bed volumes of compliant water (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications
Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Environmental Science & Technology Letters
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 294–301
- Publication date
- 16 January 2026
- Language
- EN