Constructing 2D Polyphenols-Based Crosslinked Networks for Ultrafast and Selective Uranium Extraction from Seawater

The role of tannins (TA), a well-known abundant and ecologically friendly chelating ligand, in metal capture has long been studied. Different kinds of TA-containing adsorbents are synthesized for uranium capture, while most adsorbents suffer from unfavorable adsorption kinetics. Herein, the design and preparation of a TA-containing 2D crosslinked network adsorbent (TANP) is reported. The approximate to 1.8-nanometer-thick TANP films curl up into micrometer-scale pores, which contribute to fast mass transfer and full exposure of active sites. The coordination environment of uranyl (UO22+) ions is explored by integrated analysis of U L3-edge XANES and EXAFS. Density functional theory calculations indicate the energetically favorable UO22+ binding. Consequently, TANP with excellent adsorption kinetics presents a high uranium capture capacity (14.62 mg-U g-Ads-1) and a high adsorption rate (0.97 mg g-1 day-1) together with excellent selectivity and biofouling resistance. Life cycle assessment and cost analysis demonstrate that TANP has tremendous potential for application in industrial-scale uranium extraction from seawater. The design and preparation of a TA-containing 2D crosslinked network adsorbent (TANP) by nucleophilic aromatic substitution is reported. Benefiting from sufficiently exposed active sites, well-defined host-guest complexes, and energetically favorable binding of uranyl ions, TANP exhibits a high marine uranium uptake of 14.62 mg-1 g-1 together with the highest adsorption rate constant (1.00 x 10-3 g-1 mg-1 min-1) among the available polymer adsorbents. image