Zeolitic imidazolate framework monoliths with high mesoporosity and effective adsorption of toluene from aqueous solution

A novel interparticle porosity dominated mesoMOF, IPD-mesoMOF-12, based on sufficiently small ZIF-8 nanosized crystals was solvothermally/ultrasonically prepared and characterized via X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption as well as scanning electron microscopy. With the hydrophobic matrix-MOF of ZIF-8, IPD-mesoMOF-12 was subsequently tested as an adsorbent for removal of toluene from aqueous solution.