Structure, nomenclature and viable synthesis of micro/nanoscale metal organic frameworks and their remarkable applications in adsorption of organic pollutants

Metal-organic frameworks (MOF) are the adsorbent materials comprised of organic linkers, and inorganic blocks joined together with a strong bond (reticular synthesis). They have various attractive properties such as stability, enhanced reactivity, permanent porosity and greater surface area which make them auspicious in the adsorption/separation of various organic pollutants. The MOF materials are named differently, i.e. organic zeolite equivalents, metal–organic polymers, coordination polymer and hybrid organic–inorganic materials. The abbreviations used in the naming of MOF indicated the place of their discovery, research groups, iso-reticular materials, etc. This review deals with the nomenclature and latest key methods for the synthesis of metal–organic framework. The current literature on the adsorptive removal of toxic organic as well as inorganic pollutants by MOF materials and their derivatives from aqueous solutions has also been assessed in this review.