An excellent photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue and rhodamine B dyes in a series of porphyrinic Aluminum-based MOFs metallated by copper and cobalt metals

A series of Al-porphyrin-based MOF materials have been fabricated through the solvothermal route, denoted as AlPMOF(M). In particular, the AlPMOF(M) materials adopt the unique photoabsorption property in visible light regions, which can effectively degrade organic dyes from wastewater. Noteworthily, Cu-metallated AlPMOF displays an extraordinary photodegradation activity of organic pollutants with a high efficiency of 98% for methylene blue and 96% for rhodamine B after 300min upon irradiation of visible light at a high initial dye concentration (100mgL-1). Additionally, each AlPMOF(M) retains the photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue and rhodamine B for at least seven cycles without any considerable decrease in performance. Interestingly, the intermediate products of the photocatalytic decomposition process were interpreted through an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure. These results prove that AlPMOF(Cu) could be a promising photocatalytic material to remove highly toxic organic contaminants from wastewater.