Efficient Removal of Methylene Blue Using an Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Polyoxometalate as a Dual-Action Catalyst for Oxidation and Reduction

An organic–inorganic hybrid polyoxometalate (POM) CoPMoV [PMo^VI₈V^IV₄V^V₂O₄₂][Co(Phen)₂(H₂O)]₂[TEA]₂•H₃O•3H₂O (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, TEA = triethylamine) prepared by hydrothermal synthesis was explored as a heterogeneous catalysts to remove methylene blue (MB) through Fenton-like reaction and catalytic reduction. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize CoPMoV. The MB removal rates for the Fenton-like reaction and the catalytic reduction were 91.6% (120 min) and 97.5% (2 min), respectively, under optimum conditions. CoPMoV demonstrated excellent stability and recyclability in the Fenton-like reaction and catalytic reduction, which was confirmed by 5 cycle tests. Plausible mechanisms for MB degradation and reduction have also been proposed. Benefiting from the excellent redox properties of cobalt and [PMo^VI₈V^IV₄V^V₂O₄₂]⁵⁻ anion, CoPMoV could act as a Fenton-like and reductive catalyst for the removal of MB. This study provides a green and facile strategy to design POM-based organic–inorganic material for dye wastewater treatment via oxidation and reduction.