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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Chem.

Sec. Polymer Chemistry

Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fchem.2025.1659983

Design of a Scandium-integrated MOF hybrid hydrogel for simultaneous dye adsorption and antibacterial activity

Provisionally accepted
Abdullah  A AseeriAbdullah A Aseeri1Fadhil  Faez SeadFadhil Faez Sead2*Farag  AltalbawyFarag Altalbawy3Nawfal  YousifNawfal Yousif4Ahmed  Salih SahibAhmed Salih Sahib5,6Zahraa  Saad AbdulaliZahraa Saad Abdulali7Mariem  AlwanMariem Alwan8Mahmood  JawadMahmood Jawad9Hiba  MushtaqHiba Mushtaq10Aseel  SmeratAseel Smerat11,12
  • 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia, Abha, Saudi Arabia
  • 2Department of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq, Najaf, Iraq
  • 3Department of Chemistry, University College of Duba, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
  • 4Department of Radiology Techniques,Health and Medical Techniques College,Alnoor University, Nineveh, Iraq, Nineveh, Iraq
  • 5Ahl Al Bayt University, Karbala, Iraq
  • 6Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Kerbala, Iraq, Kerbala, Iraq
  • 7College of Health and Medical Technology, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, 64001, Iraq, Dhi Qar, Iraq
  • 8Pharmacy college, Al-Farahidi University, Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
  • 9Department of Pharmacy, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq, Karbala, Iraq
  • 10Gilgamesh University, Baghdad, Iraq
  • 11Faculty of Educational Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, 19328, Jordan, Amman, Jordan
  • 12Computer Technologies Engineering, Mazaya University College, Nasiriyah, Iraq, Nasiriyah, Iraq

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

In this study, a novel hybrid hydrogel incorporating a scandium-based metal-organic framework (scandium-integrated MOF-hydrogel hybrid) was developed using scandium nitrate, 1,4naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, oxidized pectin, and chitosan. The synthesized scandium-integrated MOF-hydrogel hybrid demonstrated remarkable dual-functionality in both the adsorption of hazardous dye pollutants and the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria commonly found in wastewater.Characterization of the scandium-integrated MOF-hydrogel hybrid was performed using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, CHNO elemental, BET, and XPS analyses, confirming successful MOF integration and a porous, reactive surface. Adsorption experiments showed significant uptake capacities for phenol red and Congo red dyes, reaching up to 40 mg and 60 mg under different physicochemical conditions, including variations in pH, temperature, adsorbent dose, and contact time. Antibacterial assessments against four wastewater-derived bacterial strains revealed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 2 to 64 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) from 4 to 128 µg/mL. These results highlight the hydrogel's potential as a multifunctional material for simultaneous pollutant removal and microbial decontamination in wastewater treatment systems.

Keywords: Scandium MOF, Hydrogel composite, wastewater treatment, Phenol red adsorption, Congo Red removal, Antimicrobial hydrogel, Oxidized pectin, Chitosan

Received: 04 Jul 2025; Accepted: 04 Aug 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Aseeri, Faez Sead, Altalbawy, Yousif, Salih Sahib, Saad Abdulali, Alwan, Jawad, Mushtaq and Smerat. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Fadhil Faez Sead, Department of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq, Najaf, Iraq

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