Tubular adsorption devices obtained via facile in-situ synthesis of metal—organic framework particles in hydrogel

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and hydrogels have abundant pores, creating much potential for applications in water purification, organic dye adsorption, and so on. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or PVA/chitosan (CS) hydrogel tubes containing in-situ synthesized MOF particles were facilely synthesized, which are capable of removing dyes from flowing fluids. The state of polymer chains during synthesis has a significant impact on microstructures and properties of obtained MOF/hydrogel composites. Hierarchical pores and polar groups endow such devices with good adsorption performance. Besides, a tubular MOF/hydrogel device was found to display excellent flexibility and stability, in which brittle ZIF-8 particles were surrounded and protected by the soft hydrogel matrix effectively. This work supplies a facile and novel strategy to prepare soft MOF/hydrogel tubes for adsorption of pollutants as well as for other potential applications.