3D-Printed Porous Ceramic Architectures Functionalized with MOFs for Efficient Removal of Emerging Pollutants

The removal of emerging contaminants (ECs), particularly antibiotics, from wastewater has become a critical challenge due to their persistence and potential ecological risks. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising adsorbents due to their high surface area, tunable functional groups, and strong host-guest interactions. However, their practical application is often hindered by poor mechanical stability and challenges in recovery. To address this, we developed 3D-printed porous ceramic scaffolds functionalized with MOFs, which are UiO-66 and NH2-UiO-66 for enhanced adsorption capacity, stability, and reusability. Using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing, we fabricated highly porous ceramic superstructures, including Weaire-Phelan and BCC-Simple Cubic lattices, which optimize mass transfer and adsorption efficiency. MOFs were integrated via in-situ growth and post-synthetic deposition, ensuring strong adhesion and uniform dispersion on the ceramic framework. Adsorption studies revealed that the composites exhibited maximum adsorption capacities of 5–10 mg/g for antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, metronidazole) of low concentrations (i.e., 1 mg L-1) under near neutral pH. Kinetic modeling indicated that adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism, while isotherm studies fitted well with the Langmuir model, confirming monolayer adsorption behavior. Furthermore, the composites retained over 90% of their adsorption capacity after five regeneration cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. This study highlights the potential of MOF-functionalized 3D-printed ceramics as a scalable and efficient platform for the removal of emerging contaminants from water systems. The findings provide valuable insights into the rational design of advanced adsorbents and their practical application in sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.