Ion pair sites for efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium in real nuclear wastewater

Abstract Electrochemical uranium extraction from nuclear wastewater represents an emerging strategy for recycling uranium resources. However, in nuclear fuel production which generates the majority of uranium-containing nuclear wastewater, fluoride ion (F − ) co-exists with uranyl (UO 2 2+ ), resulting in the complex species of UO 2 F x and thus decreasing extraction efficiency. Herein, we construct Ti δ+ -PO 4 3− ion pair extraction sites in Ti(OH)PO 4 for efficient electrochemical uranium extraction in wastewater from nuclear fuel production. These sites selectively bind with UO 2 F x through the combined Ti-F and multiple O-U-O bonds. In the uranium extraction, the uranium species undergo a crystalline…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22303002, U23A20105, U2267224, 22106126
• SU
  Southwest University of Science and Technology

  Award: 20fksy19
• CN
  China National Nuclear Corporation

  Award: KLUES202201