Herein, a magnetic
zirconium-based metal–organic framework nanocomposite was synthesized
by a simple solvothermal method and used as an adsorbent for the removal
of direct and acid dyes from aqueous solution. To enhance its adsorption
performance, poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer was used to functionalize
the as-synthesized magnetic porous nanocomposite. The dendrimer-functionalized
magnetic nanocomposite was characterized by field-emission scanning
electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and vibration
sample magnetometer. The obtained results revealed the successful
synthesis and functionalization of the magnetic nanocomposite. The
adsorbents exhibited good magnetic properties with high saturation
magnetization and high specific surface area. The adsorption isotherms
and kinetics of anionic dyes were described by the Freundlich and
pseudo-second-order models, respectively. It was found that the kinetics
of adsorption of both the investigated dyes by the dendrimer-functionalized
magnetic composite is considerably faster than the magnetic composite
under the same condition. The adsorption capacity of the dendrimer-functionalized
magnetic composite for investigated direct and acid dyes was 173.7
and 122.5 mg/g, respectively, which was higher than those of the existing
magnetic adsorbents. This work provides new insights into the synthesis
and application of hybrid magnetic adsorbents with synergistic properties
of nanoporous metal–organic frameworks and dendrimer with a
large number of functional groups for the removal of organic dyes.