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Electrochemical upcycling of uranyl from radioactive organic wastewater with a self-standing covalent-organic framework electrode

Author

Listed:
  • Huihui Jin

    (North China Electric Power University
    University of Science and Technology Beijing)

  • Yezi Hu

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Zewen Shen

    (North China Electric Power University
    University of Science and Technology Beijing)

  • Hao Pan

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing)

  • Hongliang Bao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lisha Yin

    (Nanjing Tech University (Nanjing Tech))

  • Guixia Zhao

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Zhuoyu Ji

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Xiangke Wang

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Xiubing Huang

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing)

Abstract

Efficient upcycling of uranyl from uranyl–containing radioactive organic wastewater is of utmost importance for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. In this work, an indirect electrochemical method to upcycle uranyl from radioactive organic wastewater is proposed. A cost-efficient self-standing polyarylether-based covalent organic framework electrode (PAE-COF-AO@CC) not only acts as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, but also provides chelating sites for uranyl ions and nucleation center for the following growth of studtite originating from the reaction between H2O2 and chelated uranyl. It’s clarified that the up-take studtite on PAE-COF-AO@CC electrode could transform to high-pure U3O8 after calcinating the permanently used PAE-COF-AO@CC electrode. The ultra-long lifespan of longer than 450 h and the excellent uranyl capacity of 9238.9 mg/g from the continuous accumulation of studtite make the self-standing PAE-COF-AO@CC electrode as promising materials for the uranyl resource upcycling from the complicated organic waste water matrix.

Suggested Citation

  • Huihui Jin & Yezi Hu & Zewen Shen & Hao Pan & Hongliang Bao & Lisha Yin & Guixia Zhao & Zhuoyu Ji & Xiangke Wang & Xiubing Huang, 2025. "Electrochemical upcycling of uranyl from radioactive organic wastewater with a self-standing covalent-organic framework electrode," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58747-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58747-w
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