A novel flexible branch-pinecone nanostructured UiO-66-MCA composite nanofiber membrane with bacteriostatic property for effective removal of salicylic acid

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) pose significant ecological risks due to their widespread occurrence, persistence, and potential to disrupt microbial ecosystems. Conventional adsorbents often suffer from limited adsorption capacity, bacterial fouling, and poor reusability, necessitating the development of advanced multifunctional materials. Herein, we present a novel flexible branch-pinecone nanostructured UiO-66-MCA composite nanofiber membrane (UMNM) engineered through a combination of electrospinning and self-assembly process, where pinecone-like MCA structures grow on UiO-66 wrapped nanofibers. This distinctive hierarchical architecture synergistically enhances PPCPs adsorption and antibacterial properties. The UMNM demonstrates exceptional adsorption performance for salicylic acid (SA), achieving a capacity of 154.21 mg/g, with kinetics and isotherms following the pseudo-second-order and Freundlich models, respectively. Notably, the membrane maintains robust adsorption under complex wastewater conditions, exhibiting excellent regeneration and anti-interference capabilities. In dynamic filtration tests, the UMNM removes 80.89 % of SA from raw sewage while reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 149.17 mg/L to 48.48 mg/L, meeting wastewater discharge standards. Furthermore, the UMNM achieves bacteriostatic rates of 72.20 % against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and 84.58 % against Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), mitigating biofouling risks. This study presents an innovative MOFs-HOFs composite membrane that integrates multifunctional PPCPs removal, bacteriostatic activity, and real-world wastewater applicability, offering a breakthrough solution for emerging aquatic contaminants.