Forward osmosis membrane doped with water-based zirconium fumarate MOFs to enhance dye pollutant removal and membrane antifouling performance

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be applied to enhance the property of forward osmosis membranes. However, organic solvents can easily remain in organic synthetic metal–organic frame materials and cause membrane fouling and a decrease in membrane permeability. In this study, water-based Zr-fumarate MOFs were synthesized and doped into the membrane active layer by interfacial polymerization to provide a water-based MOF-doped thin-film composite membrane (TFC membrane). It was found that doping the water-based MOFs effectively improved membrane hydrophilicity, and nanowater passages were introduced in the active layer to improve permeability. The water flux of the water-based MOF-doped TFC membranes was increased by 21% over that of the original membrane, and the selectivity performance of the membrane was improved while keeping the salt rejection basically unchanged. Additionally, the water-based MOF-doped TFC membrane showed good removal efficiency ( R d  > 94%) and strong antipollution performance in the treatment of dye pollutants.