<p><?tk 4?>This work presents the development of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) nanofiltration membranes incorporating a Zn-based metal–organic framework/magnetic graphene oxide (ZnMOF@MGO) hybrid nanofiller to enhance the removal of toxic heavy metal ions from water. The ZnMOF@MGO particles were synthesized through a stepwise growth and magnetic integration process and characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and VSM analyses, confirming successful hybrid formation and nanoscale crystallinity. These nanohybrids were dispersed within a polysulfone support and further integrated into the polyamide selective layer via interfacial polymerization to produce TFN membranes with filler loadings ranging from 0.1 to 0.5wt%. The membranes exhibited improved surface hydrophilicity (contact angle reduced from 69.54 to 48.55°), modified morphology, and enhanced structural tightness as evidenced by a decreased MWCO (700 Da for TFN0.2). Performance evaluation showed that the TFN0.2 membrane achieved the best overall separation efficiency, delivering a water flux of 116.3&#xa0;L/m²·h along with high rejection of Pb²⁺ (99.14%), Hg²⁺ (82.18%), and As³⁺ (77.89%). Antifouling tests using BSA demonstrated a significant improvement in flux recovery (FRR = 98.55%) compared to the pristine TFC membrane. Although TFN0.5 exhibited slightly higher flux, excess nanofiller caused agglomeration and reduced selectivity. The results highlight the synergistic effects of ZnMOF@MGO nanohybrids in providing enhanced hydrophilicity, structural stability, permeability, and fouling resistance, confirming their strong potential for advanced nanofiltration applications in heavy-metal-contaminated water treatment.</p> Graphical abstract