METAL-ORGANIC MATERIALS FOR HARMFUL ANIONIC SPECIES REMOVAL FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION: INVESTIGATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION

Abstract

A recently developed class of porous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), has attracted substantial attention during the last years. In this thesis, the feasibility of water stable MOF materials working as functional adsorbents for contaminated water remediation (especially centered on anionic pollutants removal) was explored and studied. Three stages of research were conducted: firstly – the application of water stable MOF for the highly effective removal of specific anionic species, secondly – resolving the applicability problems of MOF adsorbents, and thirdly – the introduction of a novel concept of using metal-organic nanoclusters for efficient water decontamination. At the end, metal-organic materials were proved to provide a superior performance in the removal of harmful anionic species. The adsorption behaviors and mechanisms were systematically investigated to provide insightful understanding.