Wooden composite separators with ultrahigh uranium/vanadium selectivity and antibacterial property for capturing uranium from seawater

Herein, wooden composite separators with Fe3+/salicylaldoxime coatings have achieved selective extraction of uranium from seawater. The aldoxime groups inside the salicylaldoxime have been proved with excellent uranium/vanadium selectivity that the adsorption capacity ratios of uranium/vanadium are as high as 9. Moreover, the coatings could also enable the wooden separators with outstanding antibacterial properties owing to the phenolic hydroxyl groups of salicylaldoxime, making it possible for the separators to survive well in complex marine environments. The wooden separators could be further applied for practical dynamic adsorption with much lower mass resistances than typical fiber/power-based adsorbents, benefitting from the vertically aligned channels and high porosities.

Automated summary

In this study, wooden composite separators with Fe3+/salicylaldoxime coatings were used to selectively extract uranium from seawater. The coatings demonstrated excellent uranium/vanadium selectivity and antibacterial properties, while the wooden separators showed lower mass resistances and were suitable for practical dynamic adsorption due to the vertically aligned channels and high porosities.