Synthesis of Porous Zirconium-based Metal-Organic Framework Nanostructure for Detoxification of Chemical Pollutants

Due to the severe and harmful effects of chemical pollutants on human health and the environment, researchers have always been looking for effective ways for detoxification of chemical pollutants. In this study, zirconium-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66) nanostructures were synthesized in two gel-based (xerogel) and solvothermal (aerogel) methods. Morphology, crystalline structure, porosity and specific surface area as well as their behavior against degradation of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) as nerve agent simulant were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption isotherms (BET) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed the synthesis of aerogel and xerogel UiO-66 with uniform size distribution and crystalline structure indicating the successful synthesis of these compounds. UiO-66 xerogel also showed higher specific surface area and pore volume than UiO-66 nanocrystals (aerogel). The degradation performance of the synthesized metal-organic framework nanostructures showed that the UiO-66 xerogel with a half-life of 28.6 min had better catalytic properties than the UiO-66 aerogel at 120 min and ambient temperature, as about 80% of DMMP is hydrolyzed.