Metal–organic frameworks for heavy metal removal from water

The pollution of surface and groundwater with heavy metals is a serious global concern, both environmentally, as well as with respect to human health. Overabundance of these elements poses severe health risks for humans, and also for other life forms through bioaccumulation along food chains. Therefore, steps should be taken to reduce the amount of such elements in water to acceptable levels. This review looks at metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) which have been recently developed and studied for potential applications in heavy metal removal from water. We provide an overview of the current capabilities and important properties of MOFs used for this purpose.