Strategies to enhance catalytic performance of metal–organic frameworks in sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes for organic pollutants removal

Organic pollutant contamination is a general issue. Sulfate radical (SO4−)-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) is an efficient technology for degradation of organic pollutants in aquatic environment. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely applied to activation of persulfate (PDS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) due to their tunable metal clusters/organic ligands, large surface area, well-ordered porous structure, and multiple active sites. Herein this review systematically and comprehensively summarizes basic strategies to enhance catalytic performance of MOFs in SR-AOPs. Two main factors to modulate MOFs are metal clusters and organic ligands. Three strategies of optimization, modification, and composite are introduced. The preparation methods, characterizations, catalytic performances, and mechanisms of several typical MOFs are highlighted. In addition, the prospects and challenges of MOFs applied to SR-AOPs are declared.