Engineers at Rice University have developed an innovative method to synthesize covalent organic frameworks (COFs). COFs can potentially address some of the most significant environmental challenges we face today including PFAS decontamination.
In the study, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, the researchers describe their method that can synthesize low-cost, high-throughput COFs.
“We built a small, continuous production system ⎯ like a minifactory on a lab bench ⎯ where the ingredients for COFs are mixed and reacted in a steady stream instead of all at once in a big container,” said Safiya Khalil, the first author of the study.
In addition to the cost savings and scalability of the method, during analysis, the team also discovered that their COFs showed improved performance over those synthesized using other methods when breaking down PFOA.
“This is an encouraging finding that adds to the growing evidence that COFs could emerge as a key player in the development of cleaner, more efficient technologies for contaminant removal,” said Verduzco, professor and associate chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice.
Traditional synthesis methods of COFs require high-temperature and high-pressure reaction environments along with toxic organic solvents, factors that have limited their widespread production. By relying on flow synthesis, the researchers have reduced this burden while enabling the production of COFs with superior crystallinity when compared to their traditional counterparts.
If adopted widely, the method developed by the researchers could aid in the remediation of PFAS contamination worldwide. By demonstrating the efficiency of their COFs, the team has showcased the practical benefits of their method.
“We hope this method will make it easier to produce COFs in large quantities and help accelerate the discovery of new formulations,” added Khalil.