Beyond Adsorption: MOFs as Advanced Catalytic Platforms for the Degradation of Aquatic Pollutants

Goshu BS

Published on: 2025-10-31

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as versatile catalysts for advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in environmental remediation, addressing persistent pollutants like pharmaceuticals, dyes, PFAS, and pesticides. This study synthesizes UiO-66-Zr via solvothermal methods, achieving a BET surface area of 1,200 m²/g and hierarchical porosity for enhanced mass transfer. Photocatalytic degradation under AM 1.5G irradiation yielded 95% methylene blue removal in 60 min, outperforming TiO? by 30%, via metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) with a 3.2 eV bandgap and 150 ps exciton lifetime. Fenton-like cycles with H?O? (10 mM) catalyzed 98% tetracycline degradation at pH 3.5, with •OH yields 2.5-fold higher than homogeneous systems, supported by continuous Fe²?/Fe³? regeneration. Persulfate activation generated SO?•? for 91% sulfamethoxazole removal, emphasizing non-radical ¹O? pathways. Comparative analysis across MIL, ZIF, and UiO series ranked UiO highest (79.5% average efficiency), excelling in heavy metals (83.2%) and pesticides (82.0%), while MIL led in pharmaceuticals (85.8%) and dyes (86.8%). Engineering strategies, post-synthetic modification (33% activity boost), composites (76.7% stability gain, 13.2 cycles), defect engineering (42.5% activity, low cost), and hybrids (53.8% activity), mitigated limitations, with defect approaches offering optimal ROI (38.6). Stability challenges in real matrices, including fouling (impact 8/10) and ion interference, reduced activity 50-70%, but engineered variants extended lifespans 3-fold. Scalability bottlenecks (TRL 3-4) like batch consistency (urgency 8/10) project 2-4 year resolutions via continuous flows. Environmental risks (HQ=2.8) highlight metal leaching (9/10) and nanoparticle release, with LCA revealing GWP=120 kg CO? eq/kg. A regulatory roadmap forecasts 80% compliance by 2028. These findings advocate tailored UiO-MOFs for sustainable AOPs, bridging lab efficacy with industrial resilience.