Electrochemical uranium extraction has emerged as an attractive option to extract uranium because it allows controllable operation. (Representational image)
Researchers have developed a highly efficient method for recovering uranium from wastewater.
They combined a specially engineered covalent organic framework with an indirect electrochemical process to extract uranium, a vital resource for nuclear power generation. Although its conventional mining faces growing environmental and economic pressures
The method is claimed to offer long-term stability and strong tolerance to chemically complex environments.
Electrochemical uranium extraction
The findings provide fresh insight into how advanced functional materials and optimized operating conditions can work together to support cleaner and more sustainable nuclear energy development.
Electrochemical uranium extraction has emerged as an attractive option for uranium extraction because it enables controlled operation, rapid response, and high selectivity. However, the technology still struggles with issues like electrode passivation, interference from competing ions, and the high cost of fabricating efficient electrodes.
A recent study addressed these limitations by creating a self-standing covalent organic framework electrode capable of performing two tasks simultaneously. Built on a carbon cloth support, the electrode contains a polyarylether backbone that drives the oxygen reduction reaction to produce hydrogen peroxide, along with amidoxime groups that selectively bind uranyl ions.
The combination provides a coordinated chemical and electrochemical pathway that greatly improves the extraction process, according to a press release.
Dual-function electrode
Published in the Sustainable Carbon Materials, the study’s approach features a ‘dual-function electrode’ design for Electrochemical uranium extraction (EUE).
By directly growing the covalent organic frameworks (COFs) on carbon cloth (CC), the authors fabricated a robust and binder-free electrode with strong catalyst-support integration, thereby enhancing electron transfer efficiency.
The PAE backbone catalyzes the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to generate H2O2, while the amidoxime groups furnish highly specific chelating sites for uranyl ions, subsequently acting as nucleation centers for controlled precipitation.
System shows excellent resistance to interference from sodium ions
Researchers also revealed that the system shows excellent resistance to interference from sodium ions and organic additives commonly found in real wastewater. Even in solutions with high ionic strength or complex organic components, the electrode maintains uranium extraction efficiency above 85%. This resilience reflects the strong intrinsic selectivity of amidoxime groups for uranyl ions.
Long-term performance tests further illustrate the durability of the approach. In organic-rich radioactive wastewater, the electrode accumulated more than 9,000 milligrams of uranium per gram of material over 450 hours of continuous operation, ranking among the highest values reported for electrochemical uranium extraction systems, according to the release.
The research team also pointed out that the synergistic mechanism behind this success involves two interconnected steps. First, amidoxime groups chelate uranyl ions and initiate nucleation. Second, electro-generated hydrogen peroxide drives sustained crystal growth. Together, these processes enable stable and efficient extraction even under difficult chemical conditions.