Facile design of zinc alkoxide-armed ZnO adsorbents for Cr(VI) removal with unique ultraviolet regeneration behavior

•Zinc alkoxides are critical ingredients in our as-design adsorbent.•Zinc alkoxides are found to have two zinc glycolates as their repeating unit.•Zinc alkoxides can be photocatalyzed due to their metastability.•Zinc alkoxides exhibit excellent adsorption for Cr(VI) removal.•Our adsorbent can be regenerated by ultraviolet irradiation.