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(Multivariate)-Metal-Organic Framework for Highly Efficient Antibiotic Capture from Aquatic Environmental Matrices
Cristina Negro1, Héctor Martínez Pérez-Cejuela2, Ernesto Francisco Simó-Alfonso2
1Instituto de Ciencia Molecular (ICMol), Universidad de Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
Abstract:
Contamination of aquatic environments by pharmaceuticals used by modern societies has become a serious threat to human beings. Among them, antibiotics are of particular concern due to the risk of creating drug-resistant bacteria and, thus, developing efficient protocols for the capture of this particular type of drug is mandatory. Herein, we report a family of three isoreticular MOFs, derived from natural amino acids, that exhibit high efficiency in the removal of a mixture of four distinct families of antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, penicillins, lincomycins, and cephalosporins, as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents. In particular, a multivariate (MTV)-MOF, prepared using equal percentages of amino acids l-serine and l-methionine, also exhibits outstanding recyclability, surpassing the benchmark material activated carbon. The good removal performance of the MTV-MOF was rationalized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These results highlight the situation of MOFs as a real and promising alternative for the capture of antibiotics from environmental matrices, especially wastewater streams.
Insights
New metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) efficiently remove antibiotics from water. These MOFs, derived from amino acids, offer a sustainable solution for capturing pharmaceutical pollutants and combating antibiotic resistance.
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.
