Efficient naphthalene removal via PMS-assisted photocatalysis over Ni/Co-BMOF

A Ni/Co bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF) photocatalyst was synthesized and applied for the degradation of naphthalene in an aqueous solution under UV irradiation. The prepared MOF was characterized using XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, FESEM, HRTEM, XPS, and BET analyses and TGA. Structural analyses confirmed the formation of cubic-shaped particles with a uniform shape, and Co and Ni were present in the +3 and +2 oxidation states, respectively. The prepared MOF showed excellent photocatalytic activity, achieving a maximum naphthalene degradation efficiency of 94.9% in 100 min under optimized conditions. In the absence of the photocatalyst, only 5.2% removal was observed, confirming the role of the photocatalyst in the degradation. Among the tested catalyst dosages, NC-IV (40 mg) exhibited the best performance, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.0281 min^-1. The pH strongly influenced the degradation process, and the maximum removal was obtained at pH 9. Additionally, scavenging studies confirmed the generation of hydroxyl and sulfate radicals in the reaction mechanism. The findings reveal the exploration of bimetallic MOF systems for the efficient removal of persistent aromatic pollutants from water.