Adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals from water using metal-organic frameworks: A review

Pharmaceutical pollution has emerged as a highly concerned issue due to its adverse effects. Elevated concentrations of pharmaceuticals in water should be regulated to satisfy the requirement for the provision of clean water. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high specific surface area, controllable porous structure, and facile modification can serve as promising adsorbents for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water. In this review, a selected collection illustrating the reliable strategies and concepts to prepare the MOFsbased materials with superior water stability is described. In addition, recent progress on the adsorptive removal of pharmaceutical pollutant using burgeoning and functional MOFs is also summarized in terms of maximum capacity, equilibrium time, and regenerate ability. Meanwhile, to understand the adsorption mechanism, related interactions including coordination with unsaturated site, pore-filling effect, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and pi-pi stacking are further discussed. Finally, critical perspectives/assessment of future research emphasising on fabricating desirable MOFs and establishing structure-property relationships to facilitate capture performance are identified.

Automated summary

Pharmaceutical pollution is a major concern, and regulating the concentration of pharmaceuticals in water is crucial for clean water provision. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising adsorbents for removing pharmaceutical contaminants due to their high surface area, controllable structure, and easy modification. Methods for preparing water-stable MOF-based materials and recent advancements in adsorptive removal of pharmaceutical pollutants using functional MOFs are discussed, along with potential interactions such as coordination, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic forces. Future research should focus on creating desirable MOFs and establishing structure-property relationships for improved capture performance.