High-performance UiO-66-NH2 monolith for efficient removal of emerging contaminants from water: synthesis, characterization, and application

Abstract

[eng] This work provides the synthesis and characterization of a novel UiO-66-NH2 monolith designed for the effective removal of organic contaminants from water. The gentle drying process used in the sol–gel method enabled densification without the need for additional pressure or binders, resulting in monoliths with high intrinsic microporosity and mesoporosity. The material demonstrates a significant adsorption capacity of 307 mg g–1 for diclofenac, achieving over 70 % extraction in five minutes, with the adsorption mechanism primarily driven by electrostatic and π–π interactions, and pore filling. The monolith also demonstrates excellent performance in the removal of pollutants in continuous-flow extraction mode, even with a mixture of various organic contaminants, in real samples, highlighting its potential for practical applications in water purification.