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Ion pair sites for efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium in real nuclear wastewater

Author

Listed:
  • Tao Lin

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Tao Chen

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Chi Jiao

    (Anhui Normal University)

  • Haoyu Zhang

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Kai Hou

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Hongxiang Jin

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Yan Liu

    (Anhui Normal University)

  • Wenkun Zhu

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

  • Rong He

    (Southwest University of Science & Technology)

Abstract

Electrochemical uranium extraction from nuclear wastewater represents an emerging strategy for recycling uranium resources. However, in nuclear fuel production which generates the majority of uranium-containing nuclear wastewater, fluoride ion (F−) co-exists with uranyl (UO22+), resulting in the complex species of UO2Fx and thus decreasing extraction efficiency. Herein, we construct Tiδ+-PO43− ion pair extraction sites in Ti(OH)PO4 for efficient electrochemical uranium extraction in wastewater from nuclear fuel production. These sites selectively bind with UO2Fx through the combined Ti-F and multiple O-U-O bonds. In the uranium extraction, the uranium species undergo a crystalline transition from U3O7 to K3UO2F5. In real nuclear wastewater, the uranium is electrochemically extracted with a high efficiency of 99.6% and finally purified as uranium oxide powder, corresponding to an extraction capacity of 6829 mg g−1 without saturation. This work paves an efficient way for electrochemical uranium recycling in real wastewater of nuclear production.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Lin & Tao Chen & Chi Jiao & Haoyu Zhang & Kai Hou & Hongxiang Jin & Yan Liu & Wenkun Zhu & Rong He, 2024. "Ion pair sites for efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium in real nuclear wastewater," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48564-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48564-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Megan Keener & Camden Hunt & Timothy G. Carroll & Vladimir Kampel & Roman Dobrovetsky & Trevor W. Hayton & Gabriel Ménard, 2020. "Redox-switchable carboranes for uranium capture and release," Nature, Nature, vol. 577(7792), pages 652-655, January.
    2. Costas Tsouris, 2017. "Correction: Uranium extraction: Fuel from seawater," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 1-1, April.
    3. Costas Tsouris, 2017. "Uranium extraction: Fuel from seawater," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 1-3, April.
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