Abstract
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), in particular 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC)-based MOFs, have been explored as one of the most important prototype MOFs for various applications. The applications vary from gas storage, catalysts, nuclear wastewater treatment, and detoxifi cation of chemical warfare agents, etc. due to their high moisture stability, good thermal stability, unusually large pore volume and surface area. However, one of the impediments in the industrial application of these MOFs is a lack of cheap, environmentally benign and scalable synthesis methods. With the intent of contributing towards attaining a solution, the development of a facile, highly reproducible and environmentally friendly way to synthesize BDC-based MOFs using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste as a direct precursor is explored. The synthesized PET-derived MOFs are proposed as possible adsorbents for removal of radioactive isotopes or/and heavy metals from water.