Upcycling battery waste into Zn-BTC metal organic framework for dual applications in electrochemical sensing of uric acid and antibacterial applications

This study reports the sustainable synthesis of a zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-BTC MOF) using zinc, extracted from waste dry cell batteries. A three-step route involving zinc recovery, hydroxide precipitation, and solvothermal coordination with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) led to the formation of crystalline Zn-BTC. Comprehensive characterization, utilizing techniques such as XRD, FTIR, Raman, FESEM, TEM, XPS, EDS, and TGA-DSC, confirmed the formation of a highly ordered Zn-BTC MOF framework structure with nanoscale morphology and thermal stability. Zn-BTC MOF exhibited promising electrochemical performance in detecting uric acid (UA), with a wide linear detection range (0-200 μM), low detection limit (1.43 μM), and high electroactive surface area (0.16 cm2). Additionally, the MOF showed significant antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 0.1 and 0.6 mg mL-1 against Bacillus subtilis, and 0.2 and 0.8 mg mL-1 against Escherichia coli. By fabricating the MOF using recycled zinc, this research highlights its dual potential as a high-performance electrochemical sensor and antibacterial agent.