Surface‐Tuned ZIF‐8 (PA@ZIF‐8) for the Hydrophobically Driven Removal of Fipronil: A Practical Approach for Insecticide Remediation

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are significant porous materials for various environmental applications. In this work, we synthesized a well‐known MOF Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework‐8 (ZIF‐8). We then modified ZIF‐8 with 0.6 mmol of Palmitic acid (PA) to obtain superhydrophobic 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 (contact angle of 152.15° ± 1.43°). The 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 was then used to remove Fipronil (FP), an insecticide. The ZIF‐8 and 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 were then characterized using data from powder X‐ray diffraction (P‐XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. P‐XRD and Raman spectroscopy data after FP adsorption onto 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 indicated hydrophobic and weak interactions between FP and 0.6PA@ZIF‐8. The pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model described FP uptake by 0.6PA@ZIF‐8. Adsorption isotherm models were constructed, and Sips/Hill Isotherm model with an R ² value of 0.9919 was found to be the best fit. The mechanism of FP adsorption on 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 was primarily governed by hydrophobic interaction, due to bound PA tails on the external surface of ZIF‐8. The 0.6PA@ZIF‐8 was then utilized to remove the FP from the real sample for its practical application. Finally, consecutive adsorption–desorption recycling experiments, accompanied by post‐cycling characterizations, were evaluated to confirm the MOF regeneration efficiency.