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[Display omitted] The tunable porous structure of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) plays a crucial role in determining their adsorption performance. In this study, we developed and employed a strategy involving monocarboxylic acid assistance to synthesize a series of zirconium-based MOFs (UiO-66-F 4) for the removal of aqueous phthalic acid esters (PAEs). The adsorption mechanisms were investigated by combining batch experiments, characterization and theoretical simulation. By adjusting the affecting factors (i.e., initial concentration, pH values, temperature, contact time and interfering substance), the adsorption behavior was confirmed as a spontaneous and exothermic chemisorption process. The Langmuir model provided a good fit, and the maximum expected adsorption capacity of di- n -butyl phthalate (DnBP) on UiO-66-F 4 (PA) was calculated to be 530.42 mg·g−1. Besides, through carrying out the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, the multistage adsorption process in the form of DnBP clusters was revealed on a microcosmic scale. The independent gradient model (IGM) method showed the types of weak interactions of inter-fragments or between DnBP and UiO-66-F 4. Furthermore, the synthesized UiO-66-F 4 displayed excellent removal efficiency (>96 % after 5 cycles), satisfactory chemical stability and reusability in the regeneration process. Hence, the modulated UiO-66-F 4 will be regarded as a promising adsorbent for PAEs separation. This work will provide referential significance in tunable MOFs development and actual applications of PAEs removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The novel adsorbent of UiO-66-NH 2 @Mg(OH) 2 was prepared and characterized. • The adsorption capacity was improved significantly after modification. • Adsorption behavior and mechanism of phosphate on UNM were explored. • Multiwfn wave function methods were applied to interpret the adsorption mechanisms. • Phosphate was successfully recovered by the struvite-based method. Two serious challenges of water eutrophication and phosphorus resources exhaustion make the P recovery imperative. In this work, a novel phosphate adsorbent UiO-66-NH 2 @Mg(OH) 2 (UNM) has been synthesized by the in-situ growth of magnesium hydroxide nanosheets around UiO-66-NH 2. The batch adsorption experiments were carried out by controlling the single variate (such as pH, initial concentration, contact time, temperature and interfering anions) to explore the adsorption behaviors. And the adsorption dynamics and isotherms fit well with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) and Langmuir models, combined with the thermodynamics results, indicating a spontaneous and endothermic monolayer chemisorption process. Besides, the maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of UNM was calculated as 408.07 mg/g (≈130.39 mg P/g) at pH = 6.0, T = 298 K. A series of characterizations (XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, BET, TGA, XPS, ICP-MS et. al) and quantum chemical analysis methods (ESP, ALIE and Hirshfeld surface) was applied to predict the reactive sites. The possible mechanism can be deduced as two continuous steps: the physical attraction by weak interactions and the chemical adsorption with an ion-exchange mechanism. The UNM also presented high removal efficiency in the environmental water samples and showed satisfactory reusability and excellent chemical stability in the recycling process. From the desorption effluents, we successfully recycled the struvite with 14.31% P content. Therefore, the UNM will be regarded as a promising phosphate adsorbent in practice and this work will provide inspiration and guidance for the design and preparation of high-efficiency P-removal adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]