Phosphotungstic salt used as an efficient catalyst to rapidly remove RhB from water solution

Ag-modified polyoxometalate [Na(H₂O)]₂[Ag(bpf)]₃[PW₁₂O₄₀] (1) (bpf = 2,4-di(4-pyridyl)furan) was synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that 1 consists of a hybrid 3D MOF constructed from Keggin-type polyanionic [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3- and cationic Ag-bpf units. Ligand bpf in 1 was in situ transferred from 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane under the higher temperature and pressure of hydrothermal conditions. Catalytic performance of 1 as a heterogeneous catalyst for degradation of organic dye Rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated. Experimental results showed that hybrid 1 was especially active to catalytically degrade RhB under room temperature and natural light. RhB-containing solution (5.0 mg·L^?1) could be quickly bleached in a short time, and the high removal efficiency (97%) could be reached in a mere 30 min. The degradation mechanism of RhB was discussed.