Mercury in aquatic environments: toxicity and advances in remediation using covalent organic frameworks

Abstract

Mercury is a dangerous and toxic contaminant that poses significant threats to both the environment and human health. Consequently, lowering mercury levels to meet drinking water standards has become a priority. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous materials with adjustable structures that are easy to design and synthesize, and they have garnered significant attention. COFs present a crucial solution for the urgent removal of mercury from water due to their outstanding properties, including high adsorption capacity, excellent photocatalytic performance, tunable porosity, and high stability and reusability. This review aims to discuss the latest advancements regarding the toxicity of mercury and its chemical forms, as well as the synthesis methods for COFs. For the first time, we introduce COFs and their applications in mercury removal, detailing the current challenges and issues faced by COF materials in this area. Additionally, we propose future research directions and obstacles to be addressed.