An overview of metal-organic frameworks and their magnetic composites for the removal of pollutants

As a result of serious pollution in the water environment, sewage disposal has been receiving a lot of attention from the water industry. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attract a lot of interest in the adsorption and separation due to their complex structures and easily adjustable pore sizes. Magnetic MOFs inheriting the advantages of both large surface area and easy recovery have great potentials in the adsorption and separation of pollutants. This paper reviews the recent research progress on the adsorption and separation of ions, dyes and other contaminants by different types of MOFs (magnetic MOFs and non-magnetic MOFs) and their magnetic composites (Fe3O4@MOF) in aqueous environments. The factors affecting the adsorption of pollutants, and the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of adsorption are discussed with detailed examples. Finally, the challenges and opportunities for further development of magnetic MOFs are discussed and elucidated.