Phosphonate-functionalized large pore 3-D cubic mesoporous (KIT-6) hybrid as highly efficient actinide extracting agent

Abstract

A new type of radionuclide extraction material is reported based on phosphonate functionalities covalently anchored on the mesopore surface of 3-D cubic mesoporous silica (KIT-6). The easily prepared nanoporous hybrid shows largely superior performance in selective sorption of uranium and thorium as compared to the U/TEVA commercial resin and 2-D hexagonal SBA-15 equivalent.

Mesoporous silica (KIT-6) derivatized with hydroxyquinoline functionalities as a selective adsorbent of uranium(VI)

“…5, TEM images of the unmodified and modified KIT-6 materials indicate the 3-D cubic nature of the pore structure, which confirms that KIT-6 keep its original pore structure after the modification [9]. In addition, the content of C, H, and N in the unmodified and modified KIT-6 has been determined by element analysis (Table 1).…”

“…In past decades, various technologies, such as chemical precipitation [5], reverse osmosis [6], solvent extraction [7], micellar ultrafiltration [8] and adsorption, have been developed for the removal of uranium. Among them, sorption offers benefits of simplicity, rapidity, and easy recycling [9].…”

“…So many researchers modify KIT-6 with organic functional groups to improve its sorption ability and selectivity. Phosphonatefunctionalized large pore 3-D cubic mesoporous (KIT-6) hybrid as highly efficient adsorbent for actinide [9]. -COOH functionalized KIT-6 mesoporous silica show high adsorption capacity for lead(II) [22].…”

Study on the gamma-ray irradiation behavior of mesoporous silica adsorbents functionalized with phosphine oxide and phosphonic acid ligands

“…They hold high specific surface areas, thermal and mechanical stability, tunable pore size, high adsorption capacity, as well as extraordinarily wide possibilities of functionalization. Organic functionalities, such as salicylaldehyde [7], aminopropyl [8], phosphonate [9] and so on [10], have been introduced into mesoporous materials for diverse adsorption applications. Due to the remarkable coordination ability to fission products, organophosphorus compounds like TBP [11], TRPO [12] and Cyanex 272 [13] have been widely used in the solvent extraction processes in nuclear industry [14].…”

Titanium alkylphosphate functionalised mesoporous silica for enhanced uptake of rare-earth ions

“…9 Solid-phase extraction (SPX) is regarded as an alternative for SX. [10][11][12] Recently, organic-inorganic hybrid materials, including metal phosphonates (metal-organic framework) 13,14 and ligand-functionalised silica (phosphine oxide, 15 phosphonates [16][17][18] and diglycolamide-derivatives [19][20][21][22] ) have been developed as adsorbents for REE separation. The major advantage of SPX over SX is the elimination of one of the liquid phases.…”