Advancing sustainable phosphorus removal and recovery with Metal-Organic frameworks (MOFs)

Phosphorus (P) is an essential resource for living organisms, but it is expected to become depleted within the next century. Excessive discharge of phosphorus leads to resource loss and eutrophication, so it is important to find innovative strategies to recover and reuse phosphorus while improving its efficiency. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are highly promising materials for wastewater treatment due to their large specific surface areas and tunability. This review focuses on the mechanism of phosphate adsorption by MOFs in wastewater, considering various influencing factors and practical applicability. It also acknowledges the challenges associated with treating phosphorus-rich wastewater and suggests potential research directions. While progress has been made in removing phosphorus using different methods, the development of non-toxic, low-cost, stable, and regenerative MOFs for in-situ phosphorus removal, particularly at low phosphate concentrations, is urgently needed. Furthermore, it is important to explore the treatment mechanism in real wastewater and investigate how phosphorus can be recycled in nature to ensure sustainable utilization of phosphorus resources.