Chitin/Metal-Organic Framework Composites as Wide-Range Adsorbent

Composites based on chitin (CH) biopolymer and metal-organic framework (MOF) microporous nanoparticles have been developed as broad-scope pollutant absorbent. Detailed characterization of the CH/MOF composites revealed that the MOF nanoparticles interacted through electrostatic forces with the CH matrix, inducing compartmentalization of the CH macropores that led to an overall surface area increase in the composites. This created a micro-, meso-, and macroporous structure that efficiently retained pollutants with a broad spectrum of different chemical natures, charges, and sizes. The unique prospect of this approach is the combination of the chemical diversity of MOFs with the simple processability and biocompatibility of CH that opens application fields beyond water remediation.

Automated summary

Composites based on chitin biopolymer and metal-organic framework nanoparticles have been developed for pollutant absorption, offering high efficiency in retaining pollutants with diverse chemical properties, charges, and sizes. By enhancing the structure of CH/MOF composites, a unique combination of MOFs' chemical diversity and CH's processability and biocompatibility is achieved, opening up new application fields beyond water remediation.