A research team led by Professor Ling Zang at the University of Utah has published findings in Journal of Materials Chemistry C, successfully developing a dual-functional metal-organic framework material, UiO-66-N(CH₃)₃⁺, capable of both detecting and removing perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from water. This industry-funded research provides an innovative solution to the contamination problem posed by PFAS "forever chemicals."

By modifying the conventional UiO-66-NH₂ material with quaternary ammonium groups, the team significantly enhanced its performance. Postdoctoral researcher Rana Dalapati stated: "This MOF material can remove nearly 100% of PFOA from water within 5 minutes, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1178mg/g." The material also exhibits unique fluorescence sensing capability—emitting light upon capturing PFOA—enabling real-time monitoring of the pollutant.

The MOF material exhibits several outstanding properties: high selectivity and salt tolerance, maintaining stable performance in complex water conditions; over 93% adsorption capacity retained after five regeneration cycles; and integrated pollutant removal with real-time monitoring functions. The research team noted that this technology offers a practical solution for water treatment and environmental monitoring, with plans to further optimize material performance and promote its application in real-world environmental remediation.