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.