Advancing Arsenic Water Treatment Using UiO-66 and Its Functionalized Metal–Organic Framework Analogs

Arsenic contamination in water remains a critical global health challenge, affecting millions and causing severe diseases including cancer, skin lesions, and cardiovascular disorders. Adsorption using metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), particularly zirconium-based UiO-66 and its derivatives, offers a promising and sustainable approach for arsenic remediation due to their high surface area, tunable porosity, and strong chemical stability. Functionalized UiO-66 variants (e.g., –NH2, –SO3H, –COOH, –SH), metal-doped, or composite forms such as Fe3O4@UiO-66 exhibit arsenic adsorption capacities between 20 and 150 mg g−1, depending on synthesis and surface chemistry. Optimal adsorption occurs within pH 4–8, while high salinity or competing anions reduce performance by 15–40%. UiO-66 materials demonstrate excellent regeneration efficiency (70–95%) after multiple cycles, with limited metal leaching (1–3%). Advances through ligand functionalization, modulator-assisted synthesis, and composite integration have significantly improved adsorption capacity, selectivity, and reusability. However, challenges persist in achieving green, water-based synthesis, maintaining long-term stability under realistic water chemistries, and enabling scalable production. Future work should focus on eco-friendly fabrication, defect engineering, and mechanistic optimization to fully harness UiO-66’s potential as a high-performance and sustainable adsorbent for arsenic-contaminated water treatment.