Photothermal‐Enhanced Uranium Extraction from Seawater: A Biomass Solar Thermal Collector with 3D Ion‐Transport Networks

Abstract

Access to uranium resources is critical to the sustainable development of nuclear energy. The ocean contains abundant uranium resources, but the marine biological pollution and the low concentration of uranium make it a giant challenge to extract uranium from seawater. On the foundation of selective uranium adsorption using high uranium‐affinity groups, realizing the external‐field improved uranium capture without extra energy consumption is highly attractive. A solar thermal collector with 3D ion‐transport networks based on environmentally friendly biomass adsorption material is reported, which contains antibacterial adsorption ligands and photothermal graphene oxide. The antibacterial ability through an easy one‐step reaction and the fast mass transfer caused by photothermal conversion collaboratively improve the original adsorption capacity of the hydrogel by 46.7%, reaching 9.18 mg g−1 after contact with natural seawater for 14 days. This study provides a universal strategy for the design of physical‐fields‐enhanced hydrogel adsorbents.

Ion-exchange induced multiple effects to promote uranium uptake from nonmarine water by micromotors

“…The distribution coe cient (K d ) value was calculated to be 9.8 × 10 4 mL g − 1 (Fig. 5h, see detail in SI), indicating an excellent a nity toward uranyl ions 42,43,44 . Importantly, the mAIEX-MMM with self-regulated pH and self-generated phoretic ow outperforms most of the reported adsorbents in terms of the uranium adsorption performance (Fig.…”

Adsorbents for the Uranium Capture from Seawater for a Clean Energy Source and Environmental Safety: A Review

“…The multifaceted advancements involve coordination between the uranium and the chelating sites; adsorbent characterization; computer-based ligand simulations, kinetics, and thermodynamic model fittings; and analysis of various parameters including the pH, contact time, adsorbent regeneration, elution efficiency, cost, and environmental sustainability . Recently a bundle of literature emerged from China that covers special metal–organic frameworks, inorganic–organic composites, a graphene oxide/amidoxime hydrogel, − amidoxime functionalized carbon nanofibers, − and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene to enhance bulk mechanical robustness. − …”

Cogeneration of Clean Water and Valuable Energy/Resources via Interfacial Solar Evaporation

“…Additionally, the ocean environment is highly complex with marine biofouling, posing a significant challenge, as it degrades the uranium absorption. Li et al developed a glyphosine-modified photothermal hydrogel absorber with antibacterial ability to enhance uranium adsorption . The phosphate groups in glyphosine exhibit strong interaction with uranyl ions, enabling the hydrogel to preferentially absorb uranium.…”

“…Li et al developed a glyphosine-modified photothermal hydrogel absorber with antibacterial ability to enhance uranium adsorption. 50 The phosphate groups in glyphosine exhibit strong interaction with uranyl ions, enabling the hydrogel to preferentially absorb uranium. Consequently, the hydrogel absorber achieves a uranium uptake of 9.18 mg g −1 after 14 days in natural seawater and a water evaporation rate of ∼2.5 kg m −2 h −1 under 1 sun illumination.…”