New method could recover uranium from wastewater with 90% efficiency

Researchers have developed a highly efficient method to recover uranium from wastewater, achieving around 90% extraction efficiency. This novel approach uses a dual-function electrode made by growing covalent organic frameworks (COFs) directly on carbon cloth, creating a robust, binder-free electrode. The electrode’s polyarylether (PAE) backbone catalyzes the oxygen reduction reaction to produce hydrogen peroxide, while amidoxime groups selectively bind uranyl ions, facilitating controlled precipitation. This coordinated chemical and electrochemical process significantly improves uranium extraction performance. The system demonstrates excellent resistance to interference from sodium ions and organic additives commonly present in real wastewater, maintaining over 85% efficiency even in complex, high-ionic-strength solutions. Long-term tests showed the electrode could accumulate more than 9,000 mg of uranium per gram of material over 450 hours, highlighting its durability and stability. The synergistic mechanism involves amidoxime groups chelating uranyl ions and initiating nucleation, followed by hydrogen peroxide-driven crystal growth,