Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Materials in Separation Science and Technology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue highlights the recent progress in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based materials for different separation aspects, with particular emphasis on liquid–solid separations, aimed at the efficient removal (or recovery options, if possible) of heavy/toxic metals, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, etc. from aqueous environments. Water contamination by toxic metal ions and emerging organic pollutants poses serious risks to ecosystems and human health, driving the urgent need for advanced, selective and reusable separation materials.

MOFs have emerged as highly promising candidates for liquid-phase separations, due to their large surface areas, tunable pore architectures and chemically functionalizable frameworks. The articles that are welcome in this Special Issue are proposed to demonstrate how tailored structures and MOF composites can enable high adsorption capacities, fast kinetics and strong selectivity against pollutants, usually present as mixtures, such as Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cr(VI), As(III) as well as pharmaceutical residues and antibiotic substances. Special attention is given to the role of functional groups, metal nodes and framework stability in aqueous and complex water matrices.

The potential contributions also can address practical considerations, including regeneration, recyclability and performance under real-world conditions. Advances in MOF-based beads, membranes and hybrid materials further illustrate alternative strategies to improve processability and scalability for water and watsewater treatment applications. Collectively, this Special Issue provides a focused overview of current developments and future perspectives on MOF-enabled separations, underscoring their potential to deliver efficient and sustainable solutions for water and wastewater purification and environmental remediation and possibly for resource recovery options.

Prof. Dr. Anastasios I. Zouboulis
Dr. Athanasia K. Tolkou
Guest Editors

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