An Evolving Insight into Metal Organic Framework-Functionalized Membranes for Water and Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery

Abstract

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) represent one of the largest classes of porous crystalline materials. MOFs have been increasingly applied as functionalizing agents for membranes because of their porosity, high surface area, small particle size, aspect ratio control, tuneability, compatibility with a polymeric network, and exuberance of diverse functional groups. In this comprehensive review paper, we discuss achievements, opportunities, and challenges related to the functionalization of different types of membranes using MOFs for water and wastewater treatment and desalination. The current synthesis and fabrication approaches of MOF-functionalized membranes were identified and critically reviewed. The effects of MOFs on membrane performance, including permeation, selectivity, and antifouling, were discussed. Also, the application of MOF-functionalized membranes in aqueous environments for conventional applications such as heavy metal removal and emerging applications such as resource recovery was enunciated. Finally, recommendations and future directions were provided for further improvement in the field of MOF-functionalized membranes for water treatment and reuse.

Nanoplastics Removal from Water using Metal–Organic Framework: Investigation of Adsorption Mechanisms, Kinetics, and Effective Environmental Parameters

“…However, these adsorbents lack functionality toward different types of nanoplastics and have deficient adsorption capacity. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous, crystalline materials constructed by the assembly of metal ions and organic ligands, which showed great performance in various applications like gas storage, separation, catalysis, sensing and contaminant removal, etc. − Owing to the high porosity, tunable structure, and rich functionality, MOFs show promising properties such as structural and surface tunability as a potential adsorbent for nanoplastics removal from water. − Previous research has demonstrated the use of Zr-based-MOFs (UiO-66-OH@MF-3) and Co-based-MOFs (ZIF-67) for the removal of micro-/nanoplastics. However, these MOFs showed limited adsorption capacity (about 34.5 mg/g) toward micro-/nanoplastics. , …”

Advanced Functional Liquid Crystals

“…[ 3b,6,61 ] Porous membranes with ordered structures have been developed based on liquid crystals, [ 6,61 ] block copolymers, [ 62 ] carbon materials, [ 63 ] and synthetic nanochannels. [ 64 ] Figure shows a comparison of the membrane materials between nanostructured LC materials and the phase‐separated structures of block copolymers. The diameters of the pores formed by block copolymers are generally >10 nm, [ 62 ] whereas the sizes of the segregated structures of LC materials are normally <2 nm.…”

A State-of-the-Art of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Chromium Photoreduction vs. Photocatalytic Water Remediation

“…These MOF/integration strategies need to consider as well the MOF shaping and filming technologies that have been developed during the last decade [ 322 ]. The hybridization of MOFs with polymers has been a natural research step that has been applied for the heavy-metal detoxification of water, but that has been rarely tested for chromium adsorption and or photoreduction purposes [ 323 , 324 , 325 ]. Similarly, the growth of MOFs as surface porous continuous layers onto varied supports has given rise to a portfolio of thin-film porous materials with optical and transport properties far from those of the bulk materials.…”