This work presents a novel approach to synthesizing magnetic core-shell nanocomposites, consisting of magnetic nanoparticles and a metal-organic framework, for environmental applications. The synthesis is based on the encapsulation of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with microporous zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals via ultrasonic activation under a continuous supply of precursor solutions. This sonochemical approach is proven to be a fast, cost-effective, and controllable route for the preparation of magnet-responsive Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 nanoparticles with a core-shell structure. The functional nanomaterial possesses a high content of ZIF-8 and combined micro/mesoporosity, and thus can be used as adsorbents that can be easily separated using a magnet. In particular, the sonochemically prepared Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 exhibits significant adsorption performance for the removal of copper ions from water: a short adsorption time (10 min), high maximum uptake capacity (345 mg g⁻¹), and excellent removal efficiency (95.3%). These performances are interpreted and discussed based on the materials characteristics of Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 established by microscopy, gas sorption, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis.

Naturally abundant vermiculite clay was expanded by using an aqueous solution of H₂O₂ and its surface was modified with ultra-thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using facile thermal vapor deposition to prepare an ecologically friendly, low-cost oil sorbent that plays an important role in oil spillage remediation. The resulting PDMS-coated expanded vermiculite (eVMT@PDMS) particles exhibited adequate hydrophobicity and oleophilicity for oil/water separation, with numerous conical slit pores (a size of 0.1–100 μm) providing a great sorption capacity and an efficient capillarity-driven flow pathway for oil collection. Simply with using a physically-packed eVMT@PDMS tube (or pouch), selective oil removals were demonstrated above and beneath the surface of the water. Furthermore, these sorbents were successfully integrated and then applied to the advanced oil-collecting devices such as a barrel-shaped oil skimmer and a self-primed oil pump.

Expanded vermiculite with excellent thermal and chemical stability was investigated as a reliable sorbent for hazardous liquid spillages, including those leading to fire and explosion risks. Many expanded samples were prepared by rapid heating using both different temperatures and dissimilar vermiculite dimensions. Their capabilities for hazard clean-up were correlated with the structural characteristics of expanded vermiculite with slit-shaped porosity. When using optimized vermiculite, the moderate sorption capacities of 1.5–3.0 g g−1 were obtained for various hazardous chemicals, including hydrophilic/hydrophobic organic chemicals and strongly acidic/basic solutions. The sorption capacities depended more strongly on physical properties, such as the pore volume of the sorbent and the density of the absorbed liquid, rather than the vermiculite's chemical composition. The void space interconnected by interparticle/intraparticle pores worked as imbibing pathways due to their capillarity, resulting in the rapid, spontaneous sorption of hazardous chemicals. The hazardous chemicals may be removed from a testing vessel via sorption with an efficiency of >94 wt.% for 10 min. These results demonstrate that the expanded vermiculite may be a potential candidate as a reliable general-purpose sorbent for hazardous materials clean-up under harsh conditions.