Covalent organic frameworks as robust materials for mitigation of environmental pollutants

Today, one of the main leading global problems is the presence of different pollutants in the environment. These pollutants not only affect human health but also overshadow the life of other creatures. Thus, pollutant treatment has become a challenging issue among the researchers and the scientific community. Different adsorbents and catalysts have been applied to the removal of pollutants. However, the associated limitations like poor chemical and physical stability, low surface area and low binding capacity revived researchers’ attention to exploring alternative materials. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are versatile materials created based on the strong covalent interactions between blocked monomers. Unique features, including high specific surface area, high chemical-physical stability and crystallinity render COFs an intriguing sorbent and catalyst in treating pollutants. This review spotlights the applications of COFs as distinguished adsorbents to remove hazardous pollutants from the environment. At first, COFs and their properties as alternative materials were introduced. Then, different synthesis approaches of COFs and their advantages and disadvantages were discussed. Furthermore, the applications of COFs outlined to remove a wide variety of pollutants based on adsorption and degradation. Finally, the prospects of COFs for the treatment of pollutants were evaluated.