# Efficient Separation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by Organic Framework Membranes: Advances, Mechanisms, and Challenges

## TL;DR

This review explores how organic framework membranes can efficiently remove harmful PFAS chemicals from water, highlighting recent advances and future directions.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a comprehensive analysis of organic framework membranes for PFAS separation and degradation, emphasizing design strategies and practical challenges.

## Key findings

- Metal–organic framework (MOF)-, COF-, and HOF-based membranes show high efficiency in PFAS separation.
- Synergistic mechanisms like size exclusion and electrostatic interactions enhance membrane performance.
- Challenges include material stability and manufacturing costs for practical applications.

## Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a class of highly persistent environmental contaminants with exceptional chemical stability. Efficient removal of PFAS from water poses a significant challenge for the chemical industry and constitutes a critical requirement for sustainable environmental development. Membrane technology has demonstrated considerable potential in water treatment due to its low energy consumption and environmentally friendly characteristics. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in emerging metal–organic framework (MOF)-, covalent organic framework (COF)-, and hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF)-based membranes for highly efficient separation and catalytic degradation of PFAS. We provide a detailed analysis of design strategies for various organic framework membranes (OFMs) and their synergistic separation mechanisms, including size exclusion, electrostatic interactions, adsorption, as well as catalytic degradation based on advanced oxidation processes. Furthermore, we systematically evaluate the performance and applicability of these membranes in practical aquatic environments. Finally, this review outlines future directions toward developing integrated “separation-degradation” membrane processes for practical applications by discussing current challenges concerning material stability, manufacturing costs, and long-term operational efficiency. This review aims to provide theoretical guidance and technical insights for developing next-generation high-performance membranes for PFAS removal.