Adsorption & Separation

Robust covalent organic frameworks for adsorption applications in various media
Gilles Matthys- Gilles.Matthys [at] UGent.be
Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) represent a promising class of crystalline porous materials. Their unique feature lies in the ability to tailor their design according to specific requirements. Among COFs, those linked by imine bonds have attracted significant attention due to their reversibility and relatively straightforward synthesis. However, imine linkages are susceptible to harsh acidic and alkaline conditions. To address this weakness, post-modification strategies can be employed to enhance the stability of these materials. Additionally, such post-modifications offer the opportunity to introduce novel functionalities. By using this approach, we can develop strategies for creating high-performance adsorbents capable of removing pollutants from both gas and aqueous environments. 
 
Metal-Organic Frameworks for the removal of arcenic pollutants
Tingting.Yang [at] UGent.be
Antimicrobial p-arsanalic acid (p-ASA) has been used in poultry diets to facilitate the growth of animals and promote feed utilization. Unfortunately, about 90% of p-ASA is thereby excreted and released into the environment, where these p-ASA residues degrade through biotic or abiotic processes, resulting in extremely toxic and transportable inorganic forms such as arsenates and arsenites (As(V) and As(III)). Within the geochemical cycle, these arsenic pollutants can accumulate in the human body through the food chain, causing harm to human health. In this regard, efficient detection and removal of low-concentration p-ASA is critical for ensuring the long-term development of water bodies. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials that have been widely used to detect and remove p-ASA. However, these materials still have some drawbacks, including single detection or removal function, and weak coordination affinity, which are inadequate for the effective and selective recognition and capture of low-concentration p-ASA in actual water environment. Hence, I hope to design and synthesize the bifunctional MOFs with high affinity for simultaneous detection and adsorption of low-concentration p-ASA in water. Additionally, based on the structural advantages of porous materials, such as highly ordered structures, inherent porosities, and tunable active sites, I will also explore other applications of porous materials.