Solar-powered “pump” for uranium recovery from seawater

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2021-07, Vol.416, p.129486, Article 129486
• Main Authors: Luo, Xiongfei, Zhang, Jiguo, Tao, Jiabo, Wang, Xue, Zhao, Shuangliang, Chen, Zhijun, Liu, Shouxin, Li, Jian, Li, Shujun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellulose; Solar steam generation; Tannic acid; Uranium recovery
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2021.129486

[Display omitted] A solar-powered pump (SPP) was prepared by brushing CNT on the aerogel top surface which consisted of cellulose, PVA, and tannic acid. As-prepared SPP showed 48.6% higher uranium adsorption than the one without solar irradiation. The SSP has great potential in the recovery of various metal ions in the water under solar irradiation. As a result, the SPP was successfully used to collect uranium in spiked natural seawater. •A solar-powered pump (SPP) was prepared.•SPP showed 48.6% higher uranium adsorption than the one without solar irradiation.•SPP was successfully used to collect uranium in spiked natural seawater. Uranium is of great importance to the nuclear industry and a practical and economic method for recovering uranium from seawater could help to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Available technology for extracting uranium is, however, limited by recovery speed. Here, we report a solar-powered “pump” for recovery of uranium from seawater, as well as steam generation. This “pump” consists of a cellulose-reinforced tannin-functionalized aerogel coated with carbon nanotubes. Upon solar irradiation, the carbon nanotubes generate a local heating effect that can be used to generate steam, which increases the speed and capacity of uranium adsorption. Our work provides a new strategy for recovery of uranium from seawater and could also be used for recovery of other heavy metal ions from wastewater.