From synergistic integration to advanced substitution: MOF-assisted biocatalytic membranes for emerging contaminants remediation

Pei Wang; Jiabin Jin; Rui Hou; Guolei Jin; Lei Qin; Xianxin Chen; Haixing Wang; Yong Zhou; Congjie Gao

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126261

From synergistic integration to advanced substitution: MOF-assisted biocatalytic membranes for emerging contaminants remediation

J Environ Manage. 2025 Jun 27:390:126261. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126261. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Pei Wang¹, Jiabin Jin², Rui Hou¹, Guolei Jin³, Lei Qin⁴, Xianxin Chen², Haixing Wang², Yong Zhou⁵, Congjie Gao¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
² National Narcotic Laboratory Zhejiang Regional Center (NNLZRC), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021, China.
³ Hangzhou Xiaohong Construction Environment Group Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310056, China.
⁴ College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China. Electronic address: qinlei0214@zjut.edu.cn.
⁵ College of Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China. Electronic address: zhouy@zjut.edu.cn.

PMID: 40580865
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126261

Abstract

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have attracted significant attention due to their adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Compared with traditional technologies, biocatalytic membranes (BCMs) combine membrane separation with enzymatic reactions, showing potential for ECs treatment. However, natural enzymes are susceptible to environmental impacts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with their high specific surface area, porosity, and tunable structures, can enhance the performance of BCMs. The preparation methods of MOF-assisted BCMs are introduced, including the advanced integration strategy and the substitution strategy. This review provides a thorough analysis of the catalytic and mass transfer mechanisms of BCMs, as well as the multifunctional synergistic effects of MOF-assisted BCMs, and explores the role of MOFs in these effects. Meanwhile, their applications in the detection and removal of ECs are summarized, acknowledging the enormous potential of MOF-assisted BCMs in wastewater treatment. In the future, the research will focus on the MOFs stability, optimizing their structure and performance, and developing efficient, low-cost preparation methods.

Keywords: Biocatalytic membranes; Emerging contaminants; Enzyme mimics; MOFs; Multifunctional synergistic effects.

Publication types

Review