Metal organic framework-based materials for water remediation: recent progress, challenges, and future perspectives

Water is integral to humans and other living beings on the planet. Over the last few decades, water pollution has been on the rise. Contaminants pose a risk not only to human health but also to aquatic life. Therefore, water purification has been the focus of researchers, driving the quest for more sustainable and efficient treatment technologies. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as highly effective adsorbents owing to their versatile properties such as tailorable porosity, high surface area, and diverse functionalities. These robust materials offer significant advantages over conventional ones considering their remarkable efficiency and selectivity in removing organic and inorganic contaminants. Furthermore, MOF-based composites and nanoconfined architectures have extended application horizons. Despite the usefulness of MOFs in water treatment, challenges such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, long-term stability, and reusability remain key concerns. This review focuses on the recent developments in MOF-based materials for water purification, emphasizing structural modifications, underlying mechanisms, and emerging trends. Additionally, it highlights critical challenges and future perspectives, discussing the requirement for sustainable regeneration strategies and improved synthesis approaches. Ongoing efforts to counter the vulnerability of MOFs will lead to revolutionizing water remediation by employing selective, efficient, and regenerable adsorbents, thereby contributing to the global efforts of protecting the environment.