Abstract The escalating release of organic pollutants and hardness-causing ions into aquatic environments necessitates advanced and sustainable purification technologies. In this work, an eco-engineered Fe-MOF was synthesized via a solvothermal route using 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid (H 4 BPTC) as a tetra carboxylate ligand and ferric nitrate as the metal precursor. The H 4 BPTC ligand, with its extended conjugation and four coordination sites, fostered the development of a robust and highly porous crystalline framework exhibiting exceptional chemical and thermal stability features. Structural elucidation through FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, XPS, TGA, and BET confirmed well-defined morphology, high surface area, and a positive surface charge favorable for electrostatic interactions with anionic pollutants. Batch adsorption studies revealed remarkable removal of dyes and hardness ions. Additionally, adsorption modeling and thermodynamic studies were performed to further understand the adsorption mechanism and interaction behavior. Water-softening efficiency, evaluated by the EDTA titrimetric method using Eriochrome Black T as an indicator, confirmed the effective elimination of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions. Furthermore, antibacterial tests recorded a 92% reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs), confirming pronounced antimicrobial activity. Notably, the Fe-MOF retained over 84% of its adsorption capacity after two regeneration cycles, underscoring its durability and recyclability. Collectively, this study introduces a H 4 BPTC-driven Fe-MOF as a multifunctional, sustainable adsorbent that unites enhanced dye removal, water softening, and antibacterial efficiency within a structurally superior ligand framework.
Ramadan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.