Metal-organic frameworks for highly efficient heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysis

The heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction is an advanced oxidation process which has gained wide spread acceptance for high removal efficiency of recalcitrant organic contaminants. Recently, the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or MOF composites as catalysts for Fenton-like catalysis has received increasing attention due to their permanent porosity and tunable open metal centers. In this article, we present an overview of the development and progress in the synthesis of different types of MOF-based catalysts and their applications for Fenton-like oxidation of organic pollutants. Special attention has been paid to the catalytic mechanism, namely the production of reactive species on the surface of the catalysts. Representative studies in this area were comprehensively reviewed. Overall, it is concluded that several classes of MOF materials with fixed metal centers are able to catalytically degrade organic pollutants over a wide pH range. Meanwhile, research in this field is still at an early stage, many improvements are required before the technology can be efficiently scaled-up and put into practice.