Multifunctional metal-organic framework (MOF) based systems for diuron detection and removal: a review

Diuron (DU), a widely used herbicide worldwide, leads to water, air, and soil pollution due to its overuse. Controlled application of DU and effective detection of its presence in the environment are extremely important. In recent years, innovative materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a pioneering technology for the controlled application, detection, and removal of pesticides. In addition, MOF-based materials have shown significant potential in the removal of DU from contaminated water matrices. While this removal may contribute to reducing environmental exposure, evidence demonstrating a direct link between MOF-mediated DU removal and a reduction in human health risk is limited. This review examines the potential of MOFs in the controlled release, detection, and removal of DU. The consolidated data reveals that composite and functionalized frameworks, such as Ti-MOF/chitosan and Cr-MIL-101 derivatives, exhibit superior performance for DU removal, achieving maximum adsorption capacities of up to 441.8 mg/g. Furthermore, for controlled application, magnetic ZIF-8 nanocomposites (KMP-2) enhanced DU loading efficiency by up to 73%, reduced soil permeability by a factor of 8 to lower environmental load and demonstrated excellent recovery rates of up to 88%. Co₁Zn_0.5-P/CoO/ZnO and AuNRs@ZIF-8@GO achieved exceptional sensitivity with detection limits (LOD) as low as 2.52 nM, ensuring high selectivity and recoveries up to 107.8% even in complex agri-food and water matrices. According to literature reviews conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, there is no review study that comprehensively addresses DU-MOF interactions in terms of adsorption, controlled release, and detection. This study fills a critical gap in literature by presenting the first integrated synthesis of MOFs as highly efficient, reusable, and selective platforms for DU lifecycle management.