Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Potential Platform for Selective Treatment of Gaseous Sulfur Compounds

Abstract

The release of various anthropogenic pollutants such as gaseous sulfur compounds into the environment has been accelerated as globalization has promoted the production of high-quality products at lower prices. Because of strict enforcement of mitigation technologies, advanced materials have been developed to efficiently remove gaseous sulfur compounds released from various source processes. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials to treat sulfur compounds via adsorption, catalysis, or separation. Nonetheless, the practical applicability of MOFs is limited by a number of factors including loss of structural integrity after use, limited reusability of spent MOFs, and low stability toward omnipresent molecules (e.g., H2O). Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of MOF technology for the effective control of gaseous sulfur compounds. This review will thus help expand the fields of real-world application for MOFs with a roadmap for this highly challenging area of research.