Recent advancements in PFAS adsorptive removal using MOFs and COFs: a review

As an emerging pollutant, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in water and pose a great risk to humans. Adsorption technology is a promising technology for removing PFAS, but efficient adsorbents are still needed. Newly developed nanoporous crystalline materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), exhibit significant promise for the adsorptive removal of PFAS pollution, but there is still a lack of relevant reviews. Therefore, this review mainly focused on MOFs and COFs’ adsorption performance and mechanisms towards PFAS. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions take part in the process of PFAS adsorption, while ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, and Lewis acid–base complexation are also concluded. The novelty of this work lies in the comparison of MOFs and COFs in terms of PFAS’s adsorptive removal. Future suggestions for the improved utility of MOFs and COFs were also given.