(Multivariate)-Metal-Organic Framework for Highly Efficient Antibiotic Capture from Aquatic Environmental Matrices.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Pharmaceuticals, particularly antibiotics, contaminate aquatic environments, posing risks to human health and promoting antibiotic resistance.
• Developing effective methods for antibiotic removal from water is crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a novel family of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the efficient capture of diverse antibiotic classes from aqueous solutions.
• To investigate the performance and recyclability of these MOFs as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of three isoreticular MOFs using natural amino acids (l-serine and l-methionine).
• Testing the MOFs' efficiency in removing a mixture of four antibiotic families (fluoroquinolones, penicillins, lincomycins, cephalosporins).
• Characterization of a multivariate (MTV)-MOF using single-crystal X-ray diffraction to understand removal mechanisms.
• Assessment of the MTV-MOF's recyclability compared to activated carbon.

Main Results:

• The synthesized MOFs demonstrated high efficiency in removing multiple antibiotic families from water.
• A specific multivariate (MTV)-MOF exhibited superior recyclability compared to activated carbon.
• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction provided insights into the antibiotic removal mechanism within the MTV-MOF structure.

Conclusions:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived from amino acids are effective and promising materials for capturing antibiotics from environmental matrices.
• The developed MTV-MOF offers a sustainable and highly recyclable alternative for wastewater treatment and antibiotic removal.