Zinc-based metal-organic frameworks for sustainable water desalination and anti-scaling solutions

Water scarcity and pollution pose significant challenges worldwide, necessitating innovative solutions for sustainable water supply. Traditional desalination methods have limitations in terms of energy consumption, fouling, and environmental impact. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of zinc-based metal-organic frameworks (Zn-MOFs) as advanced fillers for desalination techniques. Zn-MOFs were synthesized using a simple precipitation technique and characterized using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The performance of Zn-MOFs was evaluated in terms of scale deformation experiments. The findings revealed that Zn-MOFs not only significantly reduce the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions responsible for scale (e.g., calcium carbonate scale) formation but also exhibit superior fouling resistance and high salt rejection capabilities. At a dosage of 3000 mg/L and pH 7.5, a remarkable 99% removal efficiency was achieved for half-scale concentration (synthetic water was prepared by the following scale concentrations: 3665 mg/L CaCl₂, 685 mg/L NaHCO₃, and 12,000 mg/L NaCl), while a 91.6% efficiency was obtained at normal scale concentrations (synthetic water was prepared by the following scale concentrations: 7330 mg/L CaCl₂, 1370 mg/L NaHCO₃, and 24,000 mg/L NaCl). These results highlight the Zn-MOFs' advantages over conventional fillers and traditional techniques by offering improved stability, superior adsorption capacity, and enhanced scale management for desalination applications. This work contributes to advancing water treatment technologies by providing a more sustainable and effective approach for mitigating fouling and enhancing desalination efficiency.