Recent advances in the application of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) in environmental remediation: a review

As one of porous metal-organic frameworks, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are typical crystalline materials with tetrahedral clusters such as ZnN4 and CoN4 linked by imidazolate ligands. Due to facile synthesis, regulated nanostructures and tunable pore sizes, various ZIFs have been extensively utilized in energy storage, separation, and heterogeneous catalysis, whereas few reviews concerning the recent advances in the removal of environmental pollutants on ZIFs have been examined systemically to date. Herein, we first review the synthesis and properties of ZIFs, and then emphasize in detail the removal of various environmental pollutants such as noxious gases, organic pollutants, heavy metals and radionuclides on ZIFs in recent five years. The interaction mechanism (e.g., adsorption, redox and co-precipitation) of ZIFs and various contaminants is proposed using spectroscopic, modeling and theoretical calculations. Finally, the prevailing challenges and further prospects in environmental pollution remediation are proposed to guide the development and actual application of ZIFs. Hopefully, this review is dedicated to material scientists and environmental chemists for broadening the actual application of ZIFs in environmental remediation.

Automated summary

This article reviews the synthesis and properties of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) and focuses on recent advances in the removal of various environmental pollutants using ZIFs. The interaction mechanisms between ZIFs and contaminants, including adsorption, redox, and co-precipitation, are proposed using spectroscopic, modeling, and theoretical calculations. The challenges and prospects for environmental pollution remediation using ZIFs are also discussed.