Metal-organic framework membranes: Recent development in the synthesis strategies and their application in oil-water separation

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new type of organic-inorganic composite material, have attracted more and more attention for advantageous features, such as large specific surface area, regular and adjustable pore structure, good thermal and chemical stability. However, the prepared MOFs usually exist in the form of fine powder, which is difficult to recycle in the actual industrial field. From the beginning of the 21st century, researchers began to pay attention to the preparation and application of MOF membranes based on the excellent properties of MOFs. In the past ten years, a variety of excellent MOF membranes have been successfully prepared and widely used in the fields of separation, catalysis, optics, sensing, and metal protection. Therefore, this review first classified summarizes the synthesis strategies of pure MOF membranes and MOF-based mixed matrix membranes. Furthermore, in order to better illustrate the excellent separation performance of MOF membranes, the application of MOF membranes in gas separation, pervaporation, desalination and water treatment and separation are briefly introduced. On this basis, the research progress of MOF membranes in the application of oil-water separation is emphatically described. Among them, the separation mechanism is discussed systematically, and the application status of several commonly used separation membranes and MOF membranes in oil-water separation are compared and discussed. Finally, the research prospects are discussed, aiming to provide theoretical basis and technical guidance for realizing the large-scale application of MOF membranes in the field of oil-water separation.