Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as a cutting-edge tool for the selective detection and rapid removal of heavy metal ions from water: Recent progress

Heavy metal poisoning of surface and groundwater has inevitably become a severe global concern, both environmentally and in terms of human health. An excess of these elements offers serious health concerns to people, as well as other living things, due to bioaccumulation along food chains. Many efforts have been focused on removing heavy metal ions and the remediation of the contaminated environment. Various metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been identified as promising candidates for the adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions because of their unique features such as tunable porosity, large surface area, chemically stability, etc. Meanwhile, effective factors in metal ion adsorption are examined. The synthesis of MOFs through various methods has been described along with pre- and post-synthetic modification processes. In this review we have discussed various sources of heavy metal ions, their toxicity, maximum tolerable limit, etc. along with the remediation from variable-valent metals in polluted water and the accompanying MOFs capable of removing these hazardous substances.