Removal efficiency of dibenzofuran using CuZn-zeolitic imidazole frameworks as a catalyst and adsorbent

Abstract Dioxins/furans are classified as highly toxic chemicals that seriously affect human health. To remove dioxin residues from contaminated water, CuZn-ZIFs, a material from bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) has been synthesized and explored its efficacy treatment with dibenzofuran (DBF). The pristine structure of CuZn-ZIFs was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, energy-dispersive X-ray, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and scanning electron microscopy. CuZn-ZIFs exhibited its role as a heterogeneous catalyst promoting H2O2 oxidation and as an adsorbent in DBF treatment. Herein, at room temperature, more than 86% of DBF adsorbed and 90% of DBF degraded in the presence of H2O2 with 10 mg catalyst dosage, 30 ppm of DBF within 40 and 60 min, respectively. Remarkably, the CuZn-ZIFs’ reusability of each process showed a high efficacy removal with over 80% after five cycles. Therefore, CuZn-ZIFs synthesized could be a prospective candidate for the indirect or direct degradation of dioxins/DBF derivatives from contaminated water. Graphical abstract