Advances and perspectives of composite nanoarchitectonics of nanocellulose/metal-organic frameworks for effective removal of volatile organic compounds

The pollution of the environment by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the resulting threat on human health are increasing, and this has prompted the development of advanced functional materials for the removal of VOCs. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) possess numerous desirable properties, such as controllable topological structures, adaptable porosity, high surface area, and exceptional chemical-thermal stability, which make them attractive candidates for VOCs removal. However, the easy aggregation and inherent crystal structure of MOFs severely limit their performance and corresponding applications. The synthesis of MOFs-based composites with structurally-manipulable MOFs nanocrystals as a substrate is considered to be an important step in the industrial application of MOFs for the removal of VOCs. Particularly, compounding MOFs into green-renewable cellulose through relevant strategies to fabricate nanocellulose–MOFs composites (CelloMOFs) is expected to solve the application limitation of MOFs caused by their defect. Herein, the research progress on CelloMOFs, in terms of their synthesis strategies, prevalent forms, and methods of VOCs removal, is comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, the potential mechanism involved in the elimination of VOCs by CelloMOFs is comprehensively presented, including the range of factors influencing the adsorption capacity of CelloMOFs. In addition, the catalytic and membrane separation strategies of CelloMOFs for the removal of VOCs are reviewed. Furthermore, the limitations and potential research directions of CelloMOFs for VOCs removal are discussed. The unique properties of CelloMOFs will open up new avenues for their extensive application for VOCs remediation.