Luminescent Tb3+ functionalized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are prepared and act as food preservatives sensor and water scavenger for NO2-. Classical metal-organic frameworks with uncoordinated N atoms in pores are elected as carrier to encapsulate Tb3+ ions. This Tb3+ incorporated material reveals excellent characteristic green luminescence of Tb3+ and good fluorescence stability in water. Subsequently, we choose this probe for sensing NO2- among several food preservative compounds, showing a highly sensitive capability for detection of NO2-; it is then proved that the Dexter energy transfer (DET) causes the luminescent quenching between Tb3+ and NO2-, achieving the detection of NO2-. This probe is also employed to detect the NO2- in real water samples and act as water scavenger to remove the NO2- in drinking water, showing a good removal capacity 3.45 mg (75.0 mu mol) of NO2- per gram of particles.