Alveoli-Bioinspired Wood Engineering by Filling a Gelatin@MOF Aerogel for Ultrahigh-Flux and Efficient Antibiotic Removal.

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.