Abstract:
In this study, a porous porphyrin-based metal–organic framework/reduced graphene oxide ((Fe–P)
n–MOF/graphene) composite was prepared via hydrothermal reduction with tetracarboxyphenyl porphyrin (TCPP) and iron(III) chloride (FeCl
3) as the main raw materials. The composite was designed to serve as a selective adsorbent for yttrium ions (Y
3+). The adsorption performance of the composite toward Y
3+ was investigated. The results indicated that the maximum adsorption capacity of the composite was 102.1 mg/g. The adsorption process followed the quasi-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, indicating a monolayer chemical adsorption mechanism. The composite material was comprehensively characterized to analyze its adsorption mechanism. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the electrostatic potential distribution in (Fe–P)
n–MOF and the binding energies of its adsorption sites toward metal ions were simulated to further determine the Y
3+ adsorption mechanism of (Fe–P)
n–MOF. The composite demonstrated excellent selective adsorption of Y
3+ from rare-earth leaching solutions and maintained a recovery rate exceeding 90% even after more than five regeneration cycles. Thus, (Fe–P)
n–MOF/graphene is a promising Y
3+ adsorbent.