Functionalized waste cellulose with metal-organic-frameworks as the adsorbent with adjustable pore size: Ultralight, effective, and selective removal of organic dyes

Abstract In this work, we proposed a green and low-cost method to prepare novel waste cellulose/ZIF-67 composite aerogels as the adsorbent. These composites were fabricated by assembling ZIF-67 crystals into the three-dimension framework of cellulose aerogel derived from waste cigarettes. Due to the high specific surface area and electrostatic attraction, as-prepared waste cellulose/ZIF-67 aerogels had a high adsorption capacity for anionic dyes. The methyl orange was selectively adsorbed by waste cellulose/ZIF-67 compared to methyl blue. The maximum adsorption capacity for methyl orange reached to 134.36 ​mg ​g−1. Interestingly, this adsorption capacity can maintain above 80% after 5 cycles. Thus, as-prepared waste cellulose/ZIF-67 aerogels in this paper have an important potential application in waste water treatment as a selective adsorbent.