Visible-Light-Driven Sonophotocatalysis for the Rapid Reduction of Aqueous Cr(VI) Based on Zirconium–Porphyrin Metal–Organic Frameworks with csq Topology
Dashu Chen, Wenhao Liu, Zhifen Guo, Zhi Jin, Bin Li, Hongzhu Xing
Abstract
Photochemical treatment of highly toxic Cr(VI) is a desirable and ecofriendly method to protect the environment and human beings. In this study, a MOF-based sonophotocatalytic system is established, in which visible-light-driven sonophotocatalytic reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in water is investigated using zirconium–porphyrin metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) structured as PCN-222(M) [M = H2, Zn(II), Fe(III), Co(II)]. In the view of the synergistic effect of sonochemistry and photocatalysis, PCN-222(M) exhibited enhanced activities for Cr(VI) reduction compared with the photocatalytic process. Kinetic studies showed that apparent reaction rate constants in the sonophotocatalytic system of PCN-222(M) are 1.5–3.3 times higher than those in photocatalysis. Fluorescence and UV–vis absorption spectra measurements demonstrate that the sonophotocatalytic process promotes the transfer of photoinduced electrons from PCN-222(M) to Cr(VI), thus enhancing the catalytic performance. The innovative combination of porous MOFs and sonophotocatalytic technology might become a feasible strategy to improve the existing MOF-based photocatalytic systems.