Metal–Organic Framework-Based Materials for Pharmaceuticals Removal from Contaminated Waters by Adsorption

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising materials for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, including antibiotics and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), from contaminated water due to their high surface areas, tunable porosity, and versatile chemical functionalities. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of MOF-based approaches for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceutical contaminants, including tetracyclines, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants, and EDCs. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between MOF characteristics and adsorption performance, including adsorption capacity and specific surface area, as well as on the adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models used to elucidate adsorption behavior and mechanisms. A distinctive aspect of this review is the integrated evaluation of regeneration and reusability, including regeneration strategies, agents, adsorption–desorption cycles, and their effects on adsorption performance and material stability. Furthermore, FTIR-based evidence is critically examined to identify possible MOF–pharmaceutical interactions by comparing pristine and contaminant-loaded materials. The role of MOF composites and selected catalytic processes as complementary approaches to pharmaceutical removal is also discussed. Finally, challenges related to MOF production cost, metal toxicity, structural stability, scalability, regeneration efficiency, and application under realistic wastewater conditions are evaluated. By integrating adsorption performance, modeling, thermodynamics, regeneration, reusability, and spectroscopic evidence, this review provides a comprehensive and practically oriented perspective on the development of MOF-based technologies for pharmaceutical-contaminated water treatment.