A new filter based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been developed that can effectively remove the pesticide glyphosate from water. Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the world and can now be found in almost all flowing water and groundwater. It is controversial in the scientific community due to its negative effects on the environment and human health. Researchers from the Technical University of Vienna have developed a filter made of metallic and organic materials that can effectively remove glyphosate from water. The filter is based on the concept of high porosity, which allows for a large surface area and increased filtration effectiveness. The researchers used MOFs, which have a large number of extremely small pores, to create the filter.
MOFs are promising for the separation and storage of gases, water purification, and drug transport in the body. However, a challenge is getting substances into the tiny channels of the MOFs without clogging them. The researchers at TU Wien published a study in Nature Communications in 2022 explaining how to add additional pores to MOFs. These mesopores are larger in diameter and allow for more efficient filtration. In collaboration with Canadian scientists, the modified MOFs were used to create a filter that can remove glyphosate from groundwater more efficiently and quickly than previous methods.
The high filtration performance is due to new binding points created by the post-processing of the MOFs. The weak binding of glyphosate to the MOFs allows for easy removal with a simple saline solution, making the MOFs reusable. This new filter has the potential to address the growing concern over glyphosate contamination in water sources and its negative impact on the environment and human health.
