Progressive Insights into Metal-Organic Frameworks and Metal-Organic Framework-Membrane Composite Systems for Wastewater Management

The sustainable management of wastewater through recycling and utilization stands as a pressing concern in the trajectory of societal advancement. Prioritizing the elimination of diverse organic contaminants is paramount in wastewater treatment, garnering significant attention from researchers worldwide. Emerging metal-organic framework materials (MOFs), bridging organic and inorganic attributes, have surfaced as novel adsorbents, showcasing pivotal potential in wastewater remediation. Nevertheless, challenges like limited water stability, elevated dissolution rates, and inadequate hydrophobicity persist in the context of wastewater treatment. To enhance the performance of MOFs, they can be modified through chemical or physical methods, and combined with membrane materials as additives to create membrane composite materials. These membrane composites, derived from MOFs, exhibit remarkable characteristics including enhanced porosity, adjustable pore dimensions, superior permeability, optimal conductivity, and robust water stability. Their ability to effectively sequester organic compounds has spurred significant research in this field. This paper introduces methods for enhancing the performance of MOFs and explores their potential applications in water treatment. It delves into the detailed design, synthesis strategies, and fabrication of composite membranes using MOFs. Furthermore, it focuses on the application prospects, challenges, and opportunities associated with MOF composite membranes in water treatment.