Highly efficient extraction of radioactive uranium from aqueous solution remains a serious task in the nuclear energy field. To address this, we here create an effective uranium ion trap by… Click to show full abstract
Highly efficient extraction of radioactive uranium from aqueous solution remains a serious task in the nuclear energy field. To address this, we here create an effective uranium ion trap by using a novel and facile strategy that introduces bioinspired moiety phytic acid (PA) into highly robust PCN-222. The resultant metal-organic framework (MOF)-based uranium ion trap (PCN-222-PA) with a high density of accessible phosphate groups exhibits a remarkable U(VI) uptake capacity (401.6 mg·g-1), surpassing most of the reported phosphorus-modified MOFs and various other MOF adsorbents. Kinetics study reveals that PCN-222-PA can reduce the uranium concentration from 10 mg L-1 to 21 μg L-1, below the acceptable limit defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, PCN-222-PA also shows good selectivity and high stability as well as excellent recyclability toward uranium capture. Our work demonstrates a new strategy to design functional MOFs with abundant phosphate groups and provides a new perspective for extracting uranium from aqueous solution.
               
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