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Pesticides protected by MOF container
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Researchers developed a biodegradable metal-organic framework (MOF) that can store pesticide molecules and also delivers plant nutrients, improving the efficiency of pest control compounds. The slow-release system reduced the amount of pesticide needed and minimized environmental runoff. Controlled-release delivery systems for agrochemicals can reduce the contamination of soil and water that can accumulate on microplastic surfaces.
A biodegradable metal-organic framework (MOF) that does double duty as a pesticide delivery system and a plant fertilizer could help improve the effectiveness of pest-killing compounds ( ACS Agric. Sci. Technol. 2023, DOI: 10.1021/acsagscitech.2c00295 ). MOFs are crystalline lattices containing metal nodes held together by organic linker molecules, and their pores can store guest molecules . In this latest example, researchers added avermectins, a family of compounds produced by the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis , to a MOF. Inserting these broad-spectrum pesticides within a structure can protect them from degrading easily when exposed to light and make them more potent against pests. Previous attempts to protect and deliver avermectins have included encapsulating the pesticides in polymers—which may add microplastics to the environment—or loading them into MOFs. But most MOFs use toxic metals or expensive organic linkers, making them unsuitable for agriculture. Lidong Cao, a pesticide researcher at the Chinese Academy of
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Green agriculture enabled by versatile metal-organic frameworks: A review
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This review examines how metal-organic frameworks can be applied to address agricultural challenges including pollutant removal, water capture, and nutrient management. Researchers evaluated MOFs for removing contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotics from agricultural systems. The study highlights MOFs as versatile materials for green agriculture while noting remaining challenges in scaling up production and ensuring environmental safety of the frameworks themselves.
Biopolymer-based nanocarriers for sustained release of agrochemicals: A review on materials and social science perspectives for a sustainable future of agri- and horticulture
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This review examines how biopolymer-based nanocarriers can deliver fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently in agriculture, reducing the need for excessive chemical applications. Unlike conventional plastic-based delivery systems, these biodegradable carriers do not generate persistent microplastic pollution in farmland. The study also considers the social and economic factors that influence whether these environmentally friendly alternatives can successfully compete with conventional approaches.
Advances in metal-organic frameworks for microplastic removal from aquatic environments: Mechanisms and performance insights
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Researchers reviewed over 65 studies on using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) — highly porous, sponge-like materials — to remove microplastics from water, finding some MOFs achieved up to 98% removal efficiency and could be reused six times, making them a promising filtration technology for microplastic pollution.
Efficiency ofMOFs in Water Treatment Against the Emerging Water Contaminants Such as Endocrine Disruptors, Pharmaceuticals, Microplastics, Pesticides, and Other Contaminants
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This review examines how metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can remove a broad range of emerging water contaminants — including microplastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine disruptors — from water. MOFs outperform conventional treatment methods because of their large surface area, tunable pore structure, and ability to work through both adsorption and photocatalysis. The paper highlights MOFs as a promising next-generation water treatment technology that could meaningfully reduce human and environmental exposure to microplastics and co-occurring pollutants.
Metal-organic framework membrane for waterborne micro/nanoplastics treatment
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Researchers reviewed the potential of metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes — materials with highly tunable pore structures — to filter micro- and nanoplastics from water more effectively than conventional filtration. MOF membranes showed promise due to their adjustable surface chemistry and resistance to biological fouling, though challenges like particle clumping and structural stability still need to be resolved.
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