<p>In this study, we investigate the efficacy of a novel membrane composed of UiO-66-NH₂ metal–organic framework, MOF, and cellulose acetate, CA, namely UiO@CA, synthesized via a casting process, for the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from wastewater. Specifically, we focus on the removal of Metronidazole, Tetracycline, and Rifampin, as pharmaceutical contaminants. Through rigorous experimentation, we demonstrate the membrane's remarkable capability to adsorb these pharmaceuticals effectively. Our findings reveal that the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model describe the best adsorption process, indicating a monolayer adsorption mechanism and chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. Furthermore, for Metronidazole (MNZ), Tetracycline (TC), and Rifampin (RIF) with initial concentration of 20 ppm, after 10 min, the membrane exhibited a removal efficiency of 88.74%, 91.74% and 28.3%, respectively, affirming its potential for efficient pharmaceutical wastewater treatment for both Metronidazole and Tetracycline, while Rifampin possessing a large structure which prevents the diffusion of it into the pores of the membrane. This research contributes to advancing sustainable wastewater treatment technologies by providing insights into the design and application of advanced membrane materials for pharmaceutical pollutant removal. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) assessment of the membrane reused after five cycles reveals negligible deterioration, suggesting that CA effectively stabilizes MOF (UiO-66-NH₂) nanoparticles.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>