Magnetic supported adsorbents for uranium separation: Advances, mechanisms, and industrial applications

This review emphasizes on identifying the scope of Magnetic solid-phase adsorbents (MSPS) for the separation of uranium from seawater. MSPS—utilizing the paramagnetic core as part of the uranium-selective adsorbent—enables a faster physical separation of the adsorbent from the aqueous phase, making them an ideal option for facilitating the uranium separation in batch mode without the need of large-scale separation columns. Suitability for batch-mode operation and a higher surface area-to-volume ratio are the other attractions of MSPS. Uranium separation from seawater has been a critical research area since the 1970s, although there has been limited work on the subject. However, with the growing global demand for uranium to meet future energy needs because of demand to reduce carbon emissions by shifting away from fossil fuels. This review highlights an update deliberation on scientific developments across the globe in developing a diverse class of magnetic supported adsorbents for uranium separation, the synthetic procedure, characterization methods, mechanism of interaction, uranium separation efficiency and so on. Due to the limited literature on this topic and the prospective to provide valuable insights into large-scale separation systems based on magnetic solid phase separation, particularly for uranium removal from seawater, the present review identifies significant opportunities for further exploration. This review would stress upon more on the different research development towards materials for magnetic assisted separation of uranium, with current focus towards emphasing materials having industrial scope, theoretical studies towards materials and industrial attempts towards the viability of using magnetic adsorbents.