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

Abdullah A Aseeri¹Fadhil Faez Sead^2*Farag Altalbawy³Nawfal Yousif⁴Ahmed Salih Sahib^5,6Zahraa Saad Abdulali⁷Mariem Alwan⁸Mahmood Jawad⁹Hiba Mushtaq¹⁰Aseel Smerat^11,12

• 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

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.