Structure, Function, and Application of MOFs: A Comprehensive Review from Synthesis to Gas/Liquid Phase Adsorption

This review focuses on the use of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for environmental remediation through adsorption processes in both liquid and gas phases. Due to their high surface areas and chemical tunability, MOFs offer promising performance in adsorbing environmental pollutants compared to traditional materials. In this work, we discuss advanced synthesis techniques, including solvothermal, room temperature, and mechanochemical techniques, and how each technique influences the resulting MOF’s structural properties. Furthermore, we analyze the use of MOFs as adsorbents for CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the gas phase, as well as their role in removing heavy metals, fluorides, dyes, and emerging pharmaceutical contaminants. Although MOFs possess intrinsic limitations, such as instability in the presence of water and challenges in cyclic regeneration, their combination with other materials has aimed to overcome these drawbacks by leveraging the best properties of each component in new hybrid materials. Finally, we evaluate various challenges, such as large-scale implementation, toxicity, and long-term stability, proposing sustainable solutions for environmental remediation.