writer：?Zhipeng Liu, Kai Feng, Xinle Zhang, Linhui Fu, Jiaxin Ren, Rui Gao, Shihao Ding, Wenqian Xing, Yiwe
keywords：uranium extraction，photothermal，hydrogel membrane
source：期刊
specific source：Chemical Engineering Journal
Issue time：2024年

Zhipeng Liu, Kai Feng, Xinle Zhang, Linhui Fu, Jiaxin Ren, Rui Gao, Shihao Ding, Wenqian Xing, Yiwen Li*, Jiaji Cheng, Qiang Li*, Jiang Gong*, Ran Niu*

Enhanced uranium extraction using a nanostructured photothermal hydrogel membrane

Chemical Engineering Journal (2024) Accept (IF2024 = 13.3)

Uranium is the basic resource in nuclear energy and a sword of two sides. The accidental release of radioactive uranium to the environment may cause serious impact on the environment and living creatures. In this workHerein, a solar evaporator with in-situ formed nanostructures was is designed for simultaneous solar evaporation and uranium extraction from polluted water. To be specific, poly(acrylic acid) and gelatin with embedded carbon black nanoparticles coated on a cotton cloth self-assemble into nanostructures via salting-out and acid treatment to reduce the light reflectivity and increaseenhance the specific surface area for uranium adsorption. Numerical simulation confirms that the evaporation-induced flow accelerates the diffusion of uranyl ions towards the adsorbent. Under solar irradiation of 1 kW m^-2, a maximum uranium adsorption capacity of 623.3 mg g^-1 is achieved, meanwhile a high solar evaporation rate of 3.75 kg m^-2 h^-1 is reached, Hence, the solar evaporator is ranked among most powerful adsorbents/evaporators. This work provides a cost-effective and scalable approach for dealing with uranium-polluted water.