In-situ fabrication of cellulose foam HKUST-1 and surface modification with polysaccharides for enhanced selective adsorption of toluene and acidic dipeptides

•Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) was used to in-situ synthesize foam HKUST-1.•CMC modulated HKUST-1 crystal into huge cubic shape (5.0 μm) with high surface area.•CMC embedded into foam HKUST-1 with CuO clusters and formed a unique interface.•At P/Po ∼ 0.0026, foam HKUST-1 bared 5.2 times higher toluene uptake than MIL-101(Cr).•Chitosan modified foam HKUST-1 exhibited highest selectivity for acidic dipeptide.