Chapter 10
Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes
in Wastewater Using Metal Organic
Frameworks
Thabiso C. Maponya, Mpitloane J. Hato, Edwin Makhado,
Katlego Makgopa, Manika Khanuja, and Kwena D. Modibane
Abstract The current major global crisis is in the sector of water, energy and food
security. Due to the growth in civilisation, industrialisation and environmental
fluctuations water scarcity and freshwater availability poses major concern to the
world, especially to the developing countries. Nearly, one-third of drinkable water is
obtained from surface sources such as rivers, dams, lakes, and canals, and some of
this water is exposed to contamination. Therefore, appropriate treatment methodologies must be implemented in order to mitigate and prevent water contamination.
Photocatalysis is an approach to curb the challenge of water contamination by
introducing the use various materials for the degradation of pollutants from wastewater. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites as materials of
interests have gained popularity in addressing water pollution in photocatalysis
applications by acting as absorbents of light, prominent to improve performance
of photocatalytic activity. This chapter focuses on the synthesis and characterization
of MOFs and their composite materials as efficient photocatalysts for degradation of
dyes from wastewater.
Keywords Metal organic frameworks · Wastewater treatment · Photocatalysis ·
Photodegradation efficiency
T. C. Maponya · M. J. Hato (*) · E. Makhado · K. D. Modibane (*)
Nanotechnology Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mineral
Sciences, University of Limpopo (Turfloop), Polokwane, South Africa
e-mail: mpitloane.hato@ul.ac.za; kwena.modibane@ul.ac.za
K. Makgopa (*)
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology (Acardia
Campus), Pretoria, South Africa
e-mail: Makgopak@tut.ac.za
M. Khanuja
Centre for Nanoscience and Nano Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University),
New Delhi, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. Rajendran et al. (eds.), Metal, Metal-Oxides and Metal-Organic Frameworks for
Environmental Remediation, Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 64,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68976-6_10
261
Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes
in Wastewater Using Metal Organic
Frameworks
Thabiso C. Maponya, Mpitloane J. Hato, Edwin Makhado,
Katlego Makgopa, Manika Khanuja, and Kwena D. Modibane
Abstract The current major global crisis is in the sector of water, energy and food
security. Due to the growth in civilisation, industrialisation and environmental
fluctuations water scarcity and freshwater availability poses major concern to the
world, especially to the developing countries. Nearly, one-third of drinkable water is
obtained from surface sources such as rivers, dams, lakes, and canals, and some of
this water is exposed to contamination. Therefore, appropriate treatment methodologies must be implemented in order to mitigate and prevent water contamination.
Photocatalysis is an approach to curb the challenge of water contamination by
introducing the use various materials for the degradation of pollutants from wastewater. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites as materials of
interests have gained popularity in addressing water pollution in photocatalysis
applications by acting as absorbents of light, prominent to improve performance
of photocatalytic activity. This chapter focuses on the synthesis and characterization
of MOFs and their composite materials as efficient photocatalysts for degradation of
dyes from wastewater.
Keywords Metal organic frameworks · Wastewater treatment · Photocatalysis ·
Photodegradation efficiency
T. C. Maponya · M. J. Hato (*) · E. Makhado · K. D. Modibane (*)
Nanotechnology Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mineral
Sciences, University of Limpopo (Turfloop), Polokwane, South Africa
e-mail: mpitloane.hato@ul.ac.za; kwena.modibane@ul.ac.za
K. Makgopa (*)
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology (Acardia
Campus), Pretoria, South Africa
e-mail: Makgopak@tut.ac.za
M. Khanuja
Centre for Nanoscience and Nano Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University),
New Delhi, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
S. Rajendran et al. (eds.), Metal, Metal-Oxides and Metal-Organic Frameworks for
Environmental Remediation, Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 64,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68976-6_10
261