Engineering modulation of cellulose-induced metal–organic frameworks assembly behavior for advanced adsorption and separation

Authors：Hongbin Yang, Liyu Zhu*, Ting Xu*, Zhanhui Yuan* and Chuanling Si*

Abstract：The exploration of methods to remove harmful pollutants has become inevitable due to the increasing number of industries and the intensification and acceleration of environmental pollution. Therefore, the development of effective adsorption and separation process technologies is essential to ensure environmental remediation. Metal-organic framework (MOF) has attracted great attention in adsorption and separation area due to its large porosity, large specific surface area, tunable pore structure, and high chemical and thermal stability. However, the powder state of MOF results in weak flexibility, manufacturability, and recyclability, severely limiting its application. In this case, the synthesis of MOF composites by in-situ or ex-situ growth with abundant and sustainable cellulose family materials is an effective strategy for stabilizing these MOF species, modulating the assembly behavior of MOF, and expanding the forms of MOF application. Particularly, exciting research activities have emerged ranging from fabrication strategies for cellulose/MOF composites to adsorption and separation applications. In this review, the recent advances in cellulose/MOF composites regarding assembly methods, processing strategies, and adsorption and separation areas are comprehensively summarized. Meanwhile, focusing on the design concept of using cellulose to regulate the assembly behavior of MOF to construct macrostructures, the property characteristics and design principles of cellulose/MOF composites are deeply analyzed with examples. Moreover, the crucial challenges and future perspectives are also meticulously analyzed and discussed. We sincerely hope this review can further promote the research enthusiasm for cellulose/MOF composites in adsorption and separation applications and provide useful references for the design and application strategies of cellulose/MOF.

  DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.155333