Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Derived Materials: Emerging Catalysts for a Sulfate Radicals-Based Advanced Oxidation Process in Water Purification

Abstract

With the ever-growing environmental issues, sulfate radical (SO₄^•- )-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) have been attracting widespread attention due to their high selectivity and oxidative potential in water purification. Among various methods generating SO₄^•- , employing heterogeneous catalysts for activation of peroxymonosulfate or persulfate has been demonstrated as an effective strategy. Therefore, the future advances of SR-AOPs depend on the development of adequate catalysts with high activity and stability. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with large surface area, ultrahigh porosity, and diversity of material design have been extensively used in heterogeneous catalysts, and more recently, enormous effort has been made to utilize MOFs-based materials for SR-AOPs applications. In this work, the state-of-the-art research on pristine MOFs, MOFs composites, and their derivatives, such as oxides, metal/carbon hybrids, and carbon materials for SR-AOPs, is summarized. The mechanisms, including radical and nonradical pathways, are also detailed in the discussion. This work will hopefully promote the future development of MOFs-based materials toward SR-AOPs applications.

Keywords: heterogeneous catalysts; metal-organic frameworks; oxidation process; sulfate radical; water purification.