In this research, a calcium-terephthalate metal-organic framework ([Ca(BDC)(H2O)3]) was synthesized by a new high yield solvothermal method as an efficient adsorbent. Terephthalate ligand recovered from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste was used as a precursor in the synthesis process. The adsorption ability of this compound to remove copper (II) from aqueous solutions was investigated. Experimental designs involving Plackett-Burman and Doehlert designs were used for the optimization of the adsorption process. Plackett-Burman design was used for screening the effective factors such as pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of Cu(II). Running Doehlert design (DD) as an optimization approach led to find a model for relation between response and effective factors and maximized uptake capacity (q) of Cu(II) (q= 351.3 mg˖g-1) under optimum conditions (pH= 5, adsorbent dosage=1.50 mg and initial concentration of Cu(II) = 150 mg˖L-1). Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analyses were applied to investigate the chemical and crystal structure of [Ca(BDC)(H2O)3]. Furthermore, kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and desorption studies are complementary divisions of this research.
