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Depolymerization to Decontamination: Transforming PET Waste into Tailored MOFs for Advanced Pollutant Adsorption
Summary
This review examines how PET plastic waste can be chemically depolymerized into building blocks — terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol — then used to synthesize metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for removing heavy metals, dyes, and emerging contaminants from wastewater, simultaneously addressing plastic pollution and water purification through a circular economy approach.
Plastic waste and water pollution demand circular economy-driven innovations. This review examines metal–organic framework (MOF) synthesis from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste for wastewater treatment. Depolymerized PET yields terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol—essential MOF precursors. We evaluate the following: (1) PET depolymerization (hydrolysis, glycolysis, ammonolysis) for monomer recovery efficiency; (2) MOF synthesis (solvothermal, microwave, mechanochemical) using PET-derived linkers; (3) performance in adsorbing heavy metals, dyes, and emerging contaminants. PET-based MOFs match or exceed commercial adsorbents in pollutant removal while lowering costs. Their tunable porosity and surface chemistry enhance selectivity and capacity. By converting waste plastics into functional materials, this strategy tackles dual challenges: diverting PET from landfills and purifying water. The review underscores the environmental and economic benefits of waste-sourced MOFs, proposing scalable routes for sustainable water remediation aligned with zero-waste goals.