A device comprising a zirconium-based metal–organic framework (MOF) mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) framed in a plastic holder has been used to monitor the content of personal care products (PCPs) in cosmetic samples. Seven different devices containing the porous frameworks UiO-66, UiO-66-COOH, UiO-67, DUT-52, DUT-67, MOF-801, and MOF-808 in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were studied. Optimized membranes reach high adsorption capacities of PCPs, up to 12.5 mg·g^–1 benzophenone in a 3.0 mg·L^–1 sample. The MMM adsorption kinetics, uptake measurements, and isotherm studies were carried out with aqueous standard solutions of PCPs to ensure complete characterization of the performance. The studies demonstrate the high applicability and selectivity of the composites prepared, highlighting the performance of PVDF/DUT-52 MMM that poses uptakes up to 78% for those PCPs with higher affinity while observing detection limits for the entire method down to 0.03 μg·L^–1. The PVDF/DUT-52 device allowed the detection of parabens and benzophenones in the samples, with PCPs found at concentrations of 1.9–24 mg·L^–1.

Integrating pollutant degradation with energy production offers a promising pathway for sustainable wastewater treatment. Herein, an advanced semiconductor-based photocatalytic system with dual functionality is developed by constructing a Z-scheme heterojunction composed of a bismuth-based metal–organic framework (Bi-MOF) self-assembled on conductive g-C₃N₄ via a one-pot solvothermal method. The resulting Bi-MOF/g-CN photocatalyst exhibits enhanced light harvesting, efficient charge separation, and suppressed carrier recombination owing to the engineered hetero-interface. Under simulated solar irradiation, the optimized Bi-MOF/g-CN-15 demonstrates outstanding photocatalytic performance toward pharmaceutical pollutants, achieving 99.8% degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) (k = 6.52 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹) and 91.3% degradation of acetaminophen (ACP) within 150 min (k = 2.45 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹). The photocatalyst retains stable activity over a wide range of pollutant concentrations, solution pH values, interfering ions, and light intensities. The synergistic interaction between Bi-MOF and g-C₃N₄ enables effective pollutant adsorption and rapid interfacial electron transfer, while the narrowed band gap facilitates broad-spectrum light absorption and high redox capability. When employed as a photoanode in a photocatalytic fuel cell, Bi-MOF/g-CN-15 achieves 63% CIP degradation using only 2 mg of catalyst, accompanied by a short-circuit current density of 3.15 mA cm⁻², an open-circuit voltage of 1.68 V, and a power density of 1.8 mW cm⁻². In addition, the photocatalyst exhibits a hydrogen evolution rate of ∼2111 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under light irradiation. The significantly enhanced hydrogen production and pollutant degradation efficiency highlight the potential of this Z-scheme system as a cost-effective and scalable platform for integrated environmental remediation and solar energy conversion.