Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to Separation Analytical Techniques

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a variety of advanced micro-porous coordination materials that have high surface area, permanent porosity and a distinct semi-organic structure. These characteristics make it possible to use MOFs as a potential sorbents for many important applications; especially, analytical chemistry. In this review we will focus on the utilization of these coordination networks in analytical chemistry applications, and more accurately, in separation techniques including; sampling processes, solid phase extraction (SPE) and solid phase micro-extraction (SPME), liquid and gas chromatography. These techniques showed a significant improvements in sensitivity and selectivity parameters by using MOFs, which make them attractive as advanced separation media to meet many analytical challenges; especially in environmental, biological, and industrial fields. However, more studies should be performed to detect more possible metal-organic structures and reveal all potential features and advantages of these micro-porous materials to analytical chemistry.