Enhancing Uranium Removal with a Titanium-Incorporated Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework

The urgent need to efficiently and rapidly decontaminate uranium contamination in aquatic environments underscores its significance for ecological preservation and environmental restoration. Herein, a series of titanium-doped zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks were meticulously synthesized through a stepwise process. The resultant hybrid bimetallic materials, denoted as NU-Zr-n%Ti, exhibited remarkable efficiency in eliminating uranium (U (VI)) from aqueous solution. Batch experiments were executed to comprehensively assess the adsorption capabilities of NU-Zr-n%Ti. Notably, the hybrid materials exhibited a substantial increase in adsorption capacity for U (VI) compared to the parent NU-1000 framework. Remarkably, the optimized NU-Zr-15%Ti displayed a noteworthy adsorption capacity (similar to 118 mg g(-1)) along with exceptionally rapid kinetics at pH 4.0, surpassing that of pristine NU-1000 by a factor of 10. This heightened selectivity for U (VI) persisted even when diverse ions exist. The dominant mechanisms driving this high adsorption capacity were identified as the robust electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged surface of NU-Zr-15%Ti and positively charged U (VI) species as well as surface complexation. Consequently, NU-Zr-15%Ti emerges as a promising contender for addressing uranium-laden wastewater treatment and disposal due to its favorable sequestration performance.

Automated summary

This article reports on a titanium-doped metal-organic framework material, NU-Zr-n%Ti, which shows remarkable adsorption capability for uranium (U (VI)) in aqueous solution. The optimized NU-Zr-15%Ti exhibits high adsorption capacity and rapid kinetics at pH 4.0, with high selectivity even in the presence of diverse ions. The study indicates that NU-Zr-15%Ti has potential for application in treating uranium-contaminated wastewater.