Keming Wan , Shideng Yuan , Jiaojiao Zhang , Yun Shen , Manshu Zhao , Keshuang Yan , Zhining Wang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Uranium is an essential resource for the development of sustainable nuclear industry. Flow electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) is a promising technology for uranium extraction from natural seawater to meet the uranium shortage, due to its superior ion capture ability and continuous operation capability. Here, amidoxime-functionalized MXene/CoZn-MOF heterojunction electrodes (MMA) are designed for FCDI uranium extraction. The MMA features a hierarchical porous structure and large internal active surface area, which provide extensive mass transport pathways. Meanwhile, the amidoxime groups ensure high uranyl selectivity. Accordingly, MMA electrodes achieve a superior uranium adsorption capacity of 2322.4 mg g−1 and remove 95.6 % uranium from 500 mg L−1 solution using an applied voltage of 1.2 V within 2 h. In a non-circulating mode, the MMA exhibits a uranium adsorption rate of 1.43 mg g−1 day−1 from seawater desalination concentrate (SDC). Additionally, the MMA retain a 90.5 % removal efficiency even after 20 reuse cycles. The density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulation results indicate that the efficient charge-transfer channels of the heterojunction and strong chelation of amidoxime groups contribute to improving the uranium adsorption capacity and selectivity. Our findings unravel underlying mechanisms of FCDI and provide valuable insights for designing electric field assisted uranium extraction.
期刊介绍:
Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include:
•Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management;
•Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure;
•Drinking water treatment and distribution;
•Potable and non-potable water reuse;
•Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment;
•Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions;
•Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment;
•Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution;
•Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation;
•Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts;
•Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle;
•Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.