A novel zirconium-based metal organic framework with record adsorption of PFOA in aqueous solution

Abstract

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an emerging contaminant of growing concern in recent years, is widely distributed in aquatic environments. Characterized by its robust chemical structure and persistence against natural degradation, PFOA poses significant threats to human health due to its bioaccumulation and carcinogenicity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient methods for its removal from aqueous solutions. In this work, we report a novel, highly stable zirconium-based metal–organic framework (Zr-705) featuring hexagonal cavities with a pore size of 2.5 nm. The cavity is functionalized with additional phenyl groups that provide additional adsorption sites. Remarkably, Zr-705 exhibits outstanding PFOA adsorption performance, including a record adsorption capacity (2031 mg g⁻¹), rapid uptake rate (2.25 mg mg⁻¹ h⁻¹), and excellent selectivity and reusability. Furthermore, we developed a novel PFOA capture device based on a Zr-705 packed column, which demonstrates outstanding PFOA removal efficiency and water purification performance.