Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis of defective zirconium-organic framework as a recyclable nano-adsorbent with superior adsorption capacity for efficient removal of toxic organic dyes

Abstract Herein, the Zr-based metal–organic framework nanomaterial was successfully and rapidly synthesized by microwave method to serve as a new recyclable adsorbent. According to the material characterization, Zr-NDC with a particle size of 100 nm was a highly defective framework due to the missing linkers during the synthesis. The MOF showed excellent efficiency with low cost for adsorption of organic dyes, methylene blue and methyl orange, because of its superior maximum capacity (746 and 726 mg g−1, respectively) and reusability over several cycles of the adsorption. From results of adsorption studies, the high adsorption activity of Zr-NDC can be attributed to the defect sites in the framework and its physisorption character towards the dyes.