Liquid-phase adsorption is a critical technology for environmental sustainability, resource management, and the advancement of biotechnology and materials science. The development of materials capable of efficient and highly selective adsorption from aqueous media is essential. In this study, we investigate the adsorption of phenolic compounds (guaiacol, creosol, and homocresol) from aqueous solutions using a stable hydrophobic metal-organic framework (MOF), namely MIL-140C. Synthesized via fast microwave-assisted hydrothermal conditions within 40 min, MIL-140C exhibits high efficiency in liquid-phase separations, achieving full recovery of these compounds upon complete pore occupancy. Our results highlight that the adsorbent with one-dimensional (1D) channels featuring parallel benzene rings is superior; the micropore filling degree of the adsorbent directly affects the recovery efficiency of the adsorbate. Theoretical calculations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis further confirm the adsorption with minimal chemical bonding. This study underscores the potential of MOFs of benzene rings parallel to the 1D channel for sustainable phenolic recovery and efficient separations of aromatic containing molecules, reflecting the decisive importance of micropore occupancy in determining recovery efficiency.

The conventional synthesis of fine chemicals through multi-step independent reactions frequently necessitates intermittent catalyst substitution and laborious intermediate purification, posing significant challenges to process efficiency and energy sustainability. Herein, we developed a polyoxometalate (POM)-mediated defect engineering strategy to construct a spatially isolated but functionally coupled oxidation–amination dual-active sites by confining H₅PV₂Mo₁₀O₄₀ ({PV₂Mo₁₀}) in UiO-66 ({PV₂Mo₁₀}-0.1@UiO-66), achieving a one-pot two-step tandem conversion of alkenes to amino alcohols. The complete conversion process begins with {PV₂Mo₁₀}-catalyzed highly selective epoxidation of the alkenes (step A), followed by the in situ ring-opening amination of the epoxide intermediate by direct addition of the amine under the catalysis of the defective sites on UiO-66, without catalyst replacement and intermediate separation. Spectroscopic and catalytic performance analysis confirmed that the {PV₂Mo₁₀}-0.1@UiO-66 with dual-active sites has continuous reaction and multi-cycle structural stability. Based on the rich functionality of POMs and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), their diverse assembly will provide a modular design platform for catalyst design aimed at tandem reactions.