Recent investigations and progress in environmental remediation by using covalent organic framework-based adsorption method: A review

Abstract Adsorption is considered to be the most effective method for removing environmental pollutants. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs, state-of-art 2D or 3D crystalline porous polymers linked by covalent bonds) have been widely used in environmental remediation due to the superior physicochemical properties such as huge specific surface area, high porosity, admirable physicochemical stability, fast charge-carrier mobility, tunable functionality. However, few investigation on the progress of COFs in environmental remediation are available. In this review, recent signs of progresses of COFs as superior materials for the efficient capture of gases, organics, heavy metals and radionuclides are critically reviewed. Finally, the current challenges and further research (e.g., large-scale synthesis, detoxification, sustainability and cost evaluation) were discussed. Hopefully, this review could contribute to exploit the extensive application of COFs on the removal of various environmental contaminants in environmental cleanup.