The　unavailability　of　a　suitable　draw　solute　constrains　the　advancement　of　forward　osmosis　(FO)　technology.　Here　from　a　custom-built　ionic　liquid　betainium　bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide　([Hbet][Tf2N]),　a　multinuclear　zinc　complex　of　[Zn4(bet)10(H2O)2][Tf2N]8　(Zn-Bet-Tf2N)　has　been　synthesized　via　a　one-pot　complexation　reaction　for　electroplating　wastewater　treatment　via　FO　processes.　Possessing　a　large　number　of　hydrophilic　groups　and　an　expanded　structure,　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　generates　a　sufficient　osmotic　pressure　to　drive　the　FO　process　and　minimizes　reverse　solute　diffusion.　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　produces　a　water　flux　of　15.0　LMH　even　at　a　dilute　concentration　(0.2　mol/L)　with　negligible　solute　leakage　during　the　FO　process.　The　water　permeation　rates　induced　by　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　increase　by　up　to　50%　compared　to　those　of　the　conventional　NaCl,　MgCl2　and　NH4HCO3　draw　solutes　in　zinc-containing　wastewater　reclamation.　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　is　readily　separated　from　water　after　FO　through　solvent　extraction.　With　no　energy　input　or　by-products,　the　recycling　of　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　is　more　practical　than　that　of　other　draw　solutes　ever　reported.　Reproducible　results　are　obtained　when　the　recycled　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　is　reused　to　FO　processes.　These　findings　suggest　that　the　Zn-Bet-Tf2N　facilitated　FO　system　can　achieve　high　water　recovery　efficiency,　high　selectivity　and　sustainability　in　zinc-containing　wastewater　treatment.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.