Metal organic frameworks as potent treatment media for odorants and volatiles in air

Abstract

The presence of odorants/volatiles in the air exerted various types of negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Their concentrations in indoor/outdoor air, if exceeding the threshold level, may not only affect human health but also deteriorate living standards. To maintain and enhance the quality of life, a better tool for the removal of these molecules is in great demand. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their associated materials offer an excellent platform for the treatment of odorants/volatiles in air (and water) systems. The diversity of ligands and metal ions in their frame imparts large loading capacities and excellent selectivity for a variety of targetable VOCs and/or odorants. This review discusses the use of MOFs and their composites to treat odorants/volatile molecules in gaseous media, with extensive discussion of their adsorptive uptakes, along with methods for their synthesis and regeneration. Moreover, the progression of odorant/volatile removal by MOFs is considered, with a special note on future directions in this emerging research field.