Phase-Inversion Engineering of Covalent Organic Framework Microspheres for Advanced Water Purification
Huina Zhou1, Ning Zhang1, Yingying Li1
1Henan International Joint Laboratory of Medicinal Plants Utilization, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 6, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to shape porous Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) into microspheres. This innovation enhances their use in water treatment and catalysis, overcoming previous limitations for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) are advanced porous polymers with significant potential.
- Their application is hindered by microcrystalline powder morphology, limiting practical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a general strategy for shaping COFs into microspheres.
- To enhance COF applicability in water treatment and catalysis.
Main Methods:
- A phase-inversion spherical shaping strategy was employed to convert powdered COFs into microspheres.
- The method was validated across eight different COFs with diverse topologies.
- The microspheres were tested in a fixed-bed continuous-flow water treatment system.
Main Results:
- The shaping strategy produced robust microspheres with a radially hierarchical pore structure.
- Microspheres retained ~90% of the adsorption capacity of original COFs.
- TAPB-DMTP-COF microspheres effectively purified 18 L of contaminated water over 20 cycles.
- Microspheres demonstrated intrinsic catalytic activity for peroxymonosulfate activation.
Conclusions:
- The developed shaping platform is versatile, mild, and scalable.
- This method overcomes critical bottlenecks for industrial COF implementation.
- The study extends COF applications to advanced oxidation processes beyond adsorption.
