Alveoli-Bioinspired Wood Engineering by Filling a Gelatin@MOF Aerogel for Ultrahigh-Flux and Efficient Antibiotic Removal
Yaqin Zhu, Changzhu Huang, Gaigai Duan, Xiaoshuai Han, Yanbo Liu, Jingquan Han, Chunmei Zhang, Shuijian He, Shaohua Jiang
Abstract
Efficient removal of antibiotic contaminants from water remains a significant environmental challenge. Natural alveoli feature a hierarchical porous network that enables efficient mass transport and molecular exchange. Inspired by this architecture, we report a wood-based gelatin aerogel composite (metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)/WGA) constructed via gelatin aerogel impregnation and in situ growth of MIL-100(Fe) within wood channels. The resulting alveolus-like structure integrates channels for directional water flow, a porous gelatin matrix for a high surface area, and uniformly distributed MOFs for abundant active sites. The MOFs/WGA composite exhibits an adsorption capacity of 180.3 mg g –1, a water flux over 1900 L m –2 h –1, and recyclability over multiple cycles. The composite also shows mechanical robustness, adaptability to complex water matrices, broad pollutant compatibility, and biodegradability. This work demonstrates a scalable, bioinspired material system that links structural hierarchy with functional performance for eco-friendly water purification.