Citation: Taiwen Chen, Baohua Wang, Lu Zhang, Wenbo Bi, Cong Lyu. Amine/imine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks with high selective capacity of perfluoroalkyl substances: Mechanism and potential application as anode in capacitive deionization[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(7): 112297. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112297 shu

Amine/imine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks with high selective capacity of perfluoroalkyl substances: Mechanism and potential application as anode in capacitive deionization

Taiwen Chen ^{a, b} ,
Baohua Wang ^c ,
Lu Zhang ^{a, b} ,
Wenbo Bi ^{a, b} ,
Cong Lyu ^{a, b, *,}

a.
Key Lab of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
b.
Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
c.
Shen Zhen Liyuan Water Design & Consultation Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, China

lvcong@jlu.edu.cn

Received Date: 19 July 2025
Revised Date: 24 October 2025
Accepted Date: 17 December 2025
Available Online: 18 December 2025

Figures(6)

Adsorption is the most effective technique for perfluoroalkyl substances removal, owing to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, conventional adsorbents suffer from low capacity, slow kinetics, poor selectivity, and reusability challenge. This study introduced a novel amine and imine functionalized covalent organic frameworks (PDA@COFs) adsorbent. Benefiting from its functional groups and unobstructed channels, PDA@COFs exhibited an ultra-high maximum adsorption capacity (3200 mg/g) and excellent selectivity for perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), which is far more than most adsorbents. Theoretical calculations revealed that electrostatic attraction is the dominant mechanism driving the selective adsorption of PFOA by PDA@COFs. The five-stages analysis of adsorption isotherms revealed that PDA@COFs adsorbed PFOA monomers via electrostatic adsorption at low concentrations and adsorbed PFOA aggregates by electrostatic and hydrophobic synergistic adsorption at high concentrations, which significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity for PFOA. To explore the practical application potential of PDA@COFs, it was evaluated as a promising anode in capacitive deionization (CDI). The recovery of PFOA was as high as 98.2%, highlighting its potential for practical application. This study is the first to demonstrate that PDA@COFs has an ultra-high adsorption capacity toward PFOA and new insights into the PFOA adsorption mechanism with five stages, and explores its practical application potential through CDI.
- Polyfluoroalkyl substances,
- Adsorption capacity,
- Selectivity,
- Covalent organic frameworks,
- Electrostatic attraction
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