Adsorptive removal of hazardous organics from water with metal-organic frameworks

Removing hazardous materials from water resources is very important for efficient utilization of the resources, and adsorptive removal is regarded as a competitive technology when good adsorbents with high capacity/selectivity are available. Metal-organic framework (MOF), composed of both organic and inorganic (metallic) species, have been tried for various adsorptions because of huge surface area/pore volume, well-defined pore structure, and facile functionalization. In this review, we summarized technologies on adsorptive removal of hazardous organics from water mainly using MOFs as adsorbents. Instead of reporting high adsorption capacity or rate, we summarized mechanisms of interaction between adsorbates (organics) and adsorbents (MOFs) and methods to modify or functionalize MOFs for effective adsorptions. We expect for readers of this review to understand needed characteristics of adsorbents for the adsorptive removal, functionalization of MOFs for effective adsorption and so on. Moreover, they might have an idea on storage and delivery of organics via understanding of the mechanism of adsorption and interaction.