MOFs-based Self-Cleaning Membranes for Water Remediation

Objective

Clean and safe water is fundamental to human health, environmental sustainability, and economic stability. Yet, the growing global water scarcity is escalating at an alarming rate. Water scarcity is exacerbated by the emergence of persistent pollutants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to severe health risks and resistant to conventional treatment technologies, posing a long-term threat to both environmental and public health. This project, entitled MOFs-based Self-Cleaning Membranes for Water Remediation (MART-MOFs), proposes a transformative solution by the development of sunlight-driven, self-cleaning metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based membranes capable of simultaneous PFAS removal by photodegradation and surface regeneration, offering a transformative solution for sustainable water purification in polluted and resource-limited regions. By integrating photocatalytically active MOFs with tailored polymeric membrane matrices through advanced fabrication processing, the membranes will harness solar energy to degrade organic contaminants, prevent fouling, while exhibiting no toxicity and extended operational lifetime. MART-MOFs merges photocatalytic MOFs design, MOFs-polymeric membrane matrices interface engineering, membrane fabrication optimization, photocatalytic performance assessment, antifouling evaluation, stability and reusability testing, and comprehensive toxicological and biocompatibility studies of both the materials and the treated waters, combining fundamental chemistry, advanced material engineering, and environmental safety validation to resolve the gap between high-performance and practical real-life desired deployment. The fellowship will not only advance cutting-edge materials research but also foster interdisciplinary skills in photocatalysis, membrane engineering, environmental toxicology, and sustainability assessment, aligning with the MSCA’s mission to strengthen Europe’s scientific excellence.