Extraction Of Materials Research Articles

Effective extraction and detection of aflatoxins in cereals using nitrogen-rich benzodiimidazole linkage magnetic covalent organic framework based solid phase extraction and HPLC-MS/MS analysis

Cereals are frequently contaminated by aflatoxins (AFs). The objective of this study was to develop an efficient extraction materials for rapidly extracting and detecting AFs. A novel amino-functionalized benzodiimidazole linkage magnetic covalent organic framework (Fe3O4@BB-COF) was simply fabricated by one-step cyclization and aromatization. The Fe3O4@BB-COF, having multiple N-containing active sites, exhibited excellent extraction capability towards AFs due to synergistic interactions, including the π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions, polar interactions, electrostatic interactions and Lewis acid-base interactions. The Fe3O4@BB-COF based MSPE method for detecting aflatoxins has advantages of simple operation, short extraction time (6 min), and low material consumption (2 mg). This method exhibited satisfactory linearity (0.05–20 μg/kg), and sensitivity (0.01–0.45 μg/L for the detection limits) and accuracy (76.8–97.1 % for recovery) and was successfully applied for extracting and detecting AFs in cereals.

Hydrophilic surface-modified titanium-based lithium ion sieve adsorbents for efficient lithium extraction

Titanium-based lithium ion sieve adsorbents (HTOs) are considered among the most promising materials for lithium extraction from aqueous sources. In this study, four surfactants—sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and tannic acid (TA)—were used to surface-etch HTOs, preparing adsorbents with enhanced hydrophilicity at the nanoscale. Correlation studies between the hydrophilicity of the HTO-X and their adsorption performance revealed that all HTO-X had lower contact angles than the unetched counterparts, indicating improved adsorption capacities. Notably, TA plays a synergistic role of “killing two birds with one stone”. The TA-etched HTO-T adsorbent exhibited the lowest contact angle (8.8°) and the highest specific surface area (62.10 m2/g). In a LiCl solution, HTO-T’s adsorption capacity for Li+ reached 33.61 mg/g, a 26 % increase over the unetched HTO adsorbent (26.56 mg/g). Simultaneously, HTO-T significantly reduces the adsorption time and enhances the adsorption efficiency during the surface diffusion phase. Additionally, HTO-T demonstrated remarkable selectivity for lithium ions, with separation factors α(Li/Na), α(Li/K), α(Li/Mg), and α(Li/Ca) of 397.13, 181.55, 1288.47, and 1345.19, respectively, showcasing an excellent separation effect. The adsorption mechanism indicates that Li+ adsorption by HTO-T primarily occurs through the disruption of O–H bonds and the formation of new O-Li bonds. This research presents an efficient strategy for the development of HTOs, demonstrating HTO-T as a potential adsorbent for lithium recovery from brine sources.

Enhancement of oxidative stability of camelina oil via Alyssum homolocarpum seed gum/sodium alginate–based microcapsules loaded with Echinacea purpurea (L.) extract

Alyssum homolocarpum seed gum (AHSG) and sodium alginate (SA) were utilized as wall materials for the microencapsulation of Echinacea purpurea extract via spray drying. Furthermore, effect of microcapsules on the oxidative stability of camelina oil was assessed over a 30-day storage period. The results showed that with an increase in AHSG concentration, the particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of emulsions decreased, while their viscosity, and stability increased. Microcapsules prepared with AHSG alone exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (90.70 %), loading efficiency (40.70 %), and water solubility (88.47 %), but the lowest moisture content (1.45 %), water activity (0.31), wettability (198 s), and hygroscopicity (13.50 g/100 g). Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a spherical and smooth surface for AHSG alone-based microcapsules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that certain chemical interactions occurred between the E. purpurea extract and wall materials. By incorporating AHSG/SA-based microcapsules containing E. purpurea extract into camelina oil, the peroxide value (increasing from 1.79 to 5.12 meq∙O2/kg) and anisidine value (increasing from 1.63 to 7.09) were maintained during the 30-day storage period. In conclusion, the microcapsules prepared with AHSG alone showed significant potential for encapsulating E. purpurea extract and subsequently enhancing oxidative stability of camelina oil, comparable to TBHQ.

Efficient extraction and HPLC determination of sulfonamide residues in milk samples using acylated graphene oxide-functionalized polyurethane sponges: A tailored approach for efficient analyte recovery

This study reports a novel surface modification of polyurethane sponge (PUS) with acylated graphene oxide (AGO), yielding a versatile sorbent material (AGO@PUS) for the efficient extraction of sulfonamide residues from milk samples. The AGO@PUS combines the extractive properties of AGO with the advantages of PUS, enabling easy, fast, cost-effective, and efficient sample preparation. The material was characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD and the extraction protocol was optimized for the determination of three sulfonamides (SGD, SDS, and SDZ) by HPLC-UV. The proposed method exhibited excellent linearity (0.01–1000 µg mL−1), low limits of detection (0.04–0.06 µg mL−1) and quantification (0.13–0.21 µg mL−1), and high coefficients of determination (R2 = 0.993–0.997). The maximum recovery rate reached 99.63 %, demonstrating the exceptional sorption capacity of AGO@PUS. Notably, the clear extracts obtained with this material highlight its potential for efficient sample preparation and analysis.

Isolation of Fiber-Cellulose and Characterization from Oil Palm Frond for 3D and 4D Printing Materials Application

The oil palm frond (OPF), a primary biomass derived from agricultural waste in oil palm production, holds significant potential for evolving into cellulose fiber. Leveraging natural materials for cellulose extraction aligns with environmental sustainability. In this study, we focus on separating cellulose fibers from OPF biomass. The OPF is divided into its leaflet and frond-axial parts, undergoing a sequence of steps: dewaxing, alkaline treatment, delignification, hydrogen peroxide treatment, and final filtration. These steps assess both efficacy and cellulose fiber outputs. Notably, the axial and leaflet portions yield cellulose fibers, effective as an initial extraction step before progressing to nanoscale slicing. Quantitatively, extraction yields indicate that 14.13% and 19.52% of the 100 g leaflet and frond-axial portions can be harvested. SEM images confirm well-dispersed individual fibers. Additionally, GCMS results reveal slightly higher carbon dioxide gas in the palm leaflet sample than in the palm frond-axial sample after five days of water soaking. This procedure efficiently initializes OPF for cellulose extraction, positioning it as an initial ingredient for subsequent 3D/4D printing material production.

High speed enrichment of benzoylurea insecticides by hierarchical pore nitrogen doped carbon materials induced with hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks

The high speed enrichment of benzoylurea insecticides (BUs) in complex matrices is an essential and challenging step. The present study focuses on the synthesis of a hierarchical pore nitrogen-doped carbon material for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of BUs. This material was prepared through the carbonization of a composite material ZIF-67@MCA which assembly with hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (melamine-cyanurate, MCA) and zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) at room temperature. The optimal adsorption effect is achieved when the mass ratio of ZIF-67 to MCA is 1/3, and the carbonization was performed at 600 °C, the such obtained carbon material was denoted as 1/3ZIF-67@MCA-DCs-600. The material was characterized with various physical methods including X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), water contact angle measurement, Raman spectrometry. 1/3ZIF-67@MCA-DCs-600 exhibits a macro-mesoporous 3D structure with a high degree of nitrogen doping and relatively large specific surface area, making it suitable for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE). The adsorption of BUs with concentration of 100 ng mL-1 can reach equilibrium within 5 s. The interaction between BUs and the adsorbent, facilitated by π-π stacking, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding forces, as well as the material's porosity, enables efficient extraction recoveries ranging from 45 % to 92 %. The enrichment of BUs was achieved through the establishment of an MSPE method under optimized conditions, which was further coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of the four BUs. The linear range spans from 5 ng ml-1 to 1000 ng ml-1 with the correlation coefficient (R2) of ≥ 0.99, Meanwhile, the detection limit for these four BUs falls within the range of 0.01 to 0.10 ng ml-1. The material exhibits good reusability and can be reused for at least 5 cycles. Inter day and intra-day precision ranges from 2.1-7.9 % and 1.0-5.4 %, respectively. The method demonstrates a high level of reliability in practical applications for the determination of BUs.

Novel phenazine-based microporous organic network for selective and sensitive determination of trace sulfonamides in milk samples

BackgroundSulfonamide (SA) residues in food of animal origin possess a potential threat to human health and environment. However, due to the polar and ionic characteristics and trace level of SAs and the complexity of food matrices, direct measurement of SAs in these samples is still very difficult. Development of efficient sample pretreatment method for sensitive and selective extraction of trace SAs is of great significance and urgently desired. Therefore, rational design and synthesizing advanced and selective extractants is quite important. ResultsIn this work, a novel phenazine-based microporous organic network (MON) named TEPM-DP is reasonably synthesized and employed as a packing material for selective solid phase extraction (SPE) and sensitive determination of four typical SAs in milk samples. Phenazine-based monomer with aromatic and heteroaromatic ring and numerous N atoms is chosen to construct TEPM-DP adsorbent to provide π-π, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, and electrostatic extraction sites for SAs. The proposed method owns wide linear ranges, low limits of detection, high enrichment factors, and good precisions and recoveries for SAs in complex milk samples. The recoveries of SAs on TEPM-DP are much higher than those of commercial C18 and activated carbon. The extraction mechanisms are also elucidated via FT-IR, XPS, and comparative experiments. SignificanceThis work reports the first example of design and synthesizing phenazine-based MON in SPE via a simple and rapid solvothermal method. The results reveal the great prospects of TEPM-DP for enriching polar and ionic SAs in complex samples and uncover the potency of phenazine-based MON in sample pretreatment, which will promote the development of MON.

Simulating lunar highlands regolith profiles on Earth to inform infrastructure development and ISRU activities on the Moon

Lunar exploration and infrastructure development near the Moon's south pole, and at other future lunar settlements, demand a detailed understanding of the geotechnical properties, structure, composition, and stratigraphy of the near-surface lunar regolith. Long term exploration and development activities will require the use of regolith as a construction material for multiple structures, and as unrefined material for resource extraction during in situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities. Upcoming robotic and human exploration will be concentrated near the lunar south pole, which has a dominantly feldspathic composition typical of the lunar highlands. Past missions to lunar highlands terrain (Apollo 16, Luna 20) provide valuable “ground truth” data regarding the geomechanical properties of highlands regolith that serve as a guide for future exploration at the lunar south pole. Lunar highlands simulant LHS-1 has well-characterized geotechnical properties and is an appropriate analogue for highlands lunar regolith in terrestrial engineering studies. Cone penetrometer testing (CPT) measurements of LHS-1 reveal a strong exponential correlation between the G slope parameter and bulk density, which allows information to be obtained regarding the density profile of simulated regolith columns directly from CPT stress versus penetration curves. We show that LHS-1 can be used to replicate the near-surface regolith stratigraphy at the Apollo 16 highland landing region in Earth-based laboratories. The ultimate CPT penetration resistance measured in the laboratory under terrestrial gravity is not directly comparable to that measured under lunar gravity, and here we derive an average reduction factor of Rf = 0.29 to scale penetration resistance values to those measured in situ on the lunar surface. Geotechnical measurements of other lunar simulants combined with experiments similar to those described herein, tailored to the terrain type of interest, will provide crucial information to guide future regolith excavation, construction, and ISRU activities on the lunar surface.

Enrichment of Bakery Products with Antioxidant and Dietary Fiber Ingredients Obtained from Spent Coffee Ground

Spent Coffee Ground (SCG) is the main coffee industry by-product, rich in dietary fibers and polyphenols. The extractable material of SCG was fractionated, and the phenolic compounds were identified and quantified. Chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids were identified as the main phenolic components, and the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) of SCG was determined to be 2.16% (dry SCG basis). Furthermore, SCG was characterized in terms of Total Dietary Fiber content, which amounted to 66%. The SCG was valorized for the development of a bakery product (cookie) enhanced with fiber and bioactive polyphenols. Cookies were produced with the addition of 4% and 7% dry and defatted SCG (baked cookie basis). The produced cookie prototypes presented TPC and dietary fiber dependent on the addition level of SCG. TPC values were determined at 588 and 1017 ppm, while dietary fiber values were at 2.7 and 4.6%, respectively. The shelf life of the cookies was monitored over 143 days at three different temperatures (25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C) in terms of texture (hardness), color, Peroxide Value (PV), and TPC. It was observed that the PV value significantly increased in samples with incorporated SCG, stored at 45 °C, while in those stored at 25 °C and 35 °C, PV remained at low levels. The TPC of the SCG-enriched samples remained practically constant during the shelf life analysis, while color and hardness increased (mathematically modeled). SCG-added cookies were characterized by increased darkness, increased hardness, and a mild (desirable) coffee flavor. The overall sensory impression scores for 0%, 4%, and 7% SCG-added cookies were 7.5, 8.0, and 8.2, respectively. Based on sensory evaluation test results, the shelf lives of 0%, 4%, and 7% SCG at 25 °C were 359, 435, and 471 days, respectively. Overall, SCG is a potentially valuable ingredient that can be used to develop innovative food (baked) products with enhanced nutritional value and increased shelf life.

One-pot derivatization/magnetic solid-phase extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for rapid analysis of biogenic amines in alcoholic beverages

The determination of biogenic amines (BAs) in alcoholic beverages is crucial for assessing their health impact, ensuring beverage quality, and guaranteeing safety. Herein, a rapid one-pot derivatization/magnetic solid-phase extraction (OPD/MSPE) method was proposed using 6-aminoquinolinyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide carbamate as the derivatization reagent and magnetic hydroxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the extraction material. Integration of derivatization and extraction steps simplifies the sample preparation process, taking only three minutes and eliminating the need for centrifugation by utilizing magnetic sorbent. The resulting desorption solution was directly analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) without any evaporation or reconstitution steps. The integrated OPD/MSPE-HPLC-FLD method demonstrates excellent linearity (R2 > 0.992), accuracy (relative recoveries: 85.1–109.2%), precision (RSDs≤9.7%) and detection limits (limits of detection: 0.3–2 ng/mL). It has been successfully applied to determine free BAs in various alcoholic beverages, including red wine, Baijiu, Huangjiu, and beer. This method enables rapid, sensitive and precise analysis of BAs in alcoholic beverages.

Co-doping induced Mn-vacancy LiMn2O4 based membrane electrode for lithium extraction by electrochemically switched ion permselective process

LiMn2O4 (LMO) is considered an effective electroactive material for electrochemical lithium extraction from aqueous solutions. However, the stability issue limits its practical application. Herein, Co-doping induced Mn-vacancy LiMn2O4 (LCMO) powders were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-phase method, which were further applied to prepare an electrochemical permselective membrane electrode for selective lithium-ion extraction. Physicochemical characterizations combining with density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that Co-doping at 8a site will induce the formation of Mn vacancies in LMO, which can reduce the content of easily dissolutive trivalent Mn (Mn3+) and lower the Li+ migration energy barrier. As a result, the Li+ permeation flux of optimized LCMO-0.04 (Co: Mn = 0.04: 1.96) based membrane electrode (156.809 mmol·m−2·h−1) was increased by 85.65 % compared to that of LMO-based one (84.461 mmol·m−2·h−1) in an electrochemically switched ion permselective (ESIP) system. The selectivity factors of Li+/ Na+, Li+/Mg2+, Li+/ K+ for the LCMO-0.04 based membrane electrode were up to 10.06, 11.69, and 15.19, which were about twice as high as those for LMO membrane based one. After 1000 circles of cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests, the CV area of the LCMO-0.04 based membrane electrode maintained 91.59 % of the initial value, demonstrating remarkable electrochemical stability.

Progress of MOFs based materials for lithium extraction from brines

Progress of MOFs based materials for lithium extraction from brines

Enhanced Performance of Polymer Solar Cells by Ultraviolet-Ozone Treatment of MoOX Films with non-Thermal Annealing Treatment of MoOX Films

Molybdenum oxide (MoOX) is a commonly used hole extraction material (HEL) in polymer solar cells (PSCs). Here, we perform ultraviolet ozone treatment (UVO, non-thermal annealing treatment) on MoOX film (by spin-coated (NH4)6Mo7O24-4H2O solution on the ITO top) prepared by solution processing to develop hole extraction materials for efficient PSC. After UVO treatment of MoOX films (US-MoOX), the (NH4)6Mo7O24-4H2O molecules decompose to form a denser and higher energy levels MoOX film. Compared with E-MoOX films (vacuum evaporated MoO3 powder), US-MoOX films have similar square resistance and electrical conductivity to E-MoOX films, and the photovoltaic performance of US-MoOX-based PSCs is comparable to that of E-MoOX-based PSCs and higher than that of PEDOT:PSS-based PSCs. Therefore, US-MoOX-based PSCs show the advantages of combining high photovoltaic performance with solution processing. In addition, US-MoOX-based PSCs have the advantage of not requiring thermal annealing treatment. The results indicate that US-MoOX films are promising HEL materials for the practical production of PSCs.

Physicochemical Evaluation and Pharmacological Screening of Fernando Adenophylla Steenis Fruits.

The current study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Fernandoa adenophylla. Powder studies were carried out to estimate the quantitative physicochemical characteristics of the crude drug, including moisture content, ash content, and extractive values. Using a Soxhlet apparatus and different analytical grade solvents, 3 sample extracts of a crude drug were made. To evaluate the potentially toxic nature, an acute oral toxicity study was performed as per OECD guideline no. 423. Sample extracts were tested and analyzed by ANOVA for pharmacological potential (analgesic, antipyretic, and antidiabetic) using Wister-Albino rats. Where physicochemical analysis indicated purity, quality, and presence of organic/inorganic materials in crude drug extracts, no sign of mortality was found up to 2000 mg/kg of body weight of Fernandoa adenophyllas extracts. Analgesic activity was observed in all sample extracts, whereas only chloroform and ethanolic extracts expressed antipyretic and antidiabetic potential. Ethanolic extract was found to be most potent in pharmacological potential as 200 mg/kg extract dose exhibited %age pain inhibition of 55.12 % and reduced body temperature from 39.78±0.03 °C to 37.22±0.02 °C in hyperthermic rats. A decrease in blood glucose levels up to 57.88 % was observed on the 21st day of the treatment with 500 mg/kg ethanolic extract.

Sensitive extraction of seven pesticide residues from environmental water with magnetic graphene oxide-based covalent organic framework

The use of pesticides has increased with the development of agriculture. However, due to the trace content and the matrix's inherent complexity in environmental water, development of rapid and sensitive detection method present significant challenges in the analysis of pesticide residues. The study synthesized magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) by combining superparamagnetic nanoparticles with the easy modification of graphene oxide (GO). Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were then modified to have a large specific surface area. Finally, magnetic graphene oxide-based covalent organic frameworks, namely MGO-COFs, were obtained with a spherical structure and used as magnetic solid-phase extraction materials, which was successfully used to determine the seven pesticide residues in environmental samples in conjunction with high performance liquid chromatography. The method has a wide linear range for the tested pesticides, with satisfactory correlation coefficients (R ≥ 0.099) and low detection limits (0.3–1.21 μg L−1). The correlation coefficients for all seven pesticides were high (R2 ≥ 0.9996). The spiked recoveries, exhibiting a range of 91.3 to 109 %, demonstrated that the developed MGO-COF-MSPE-HPLC-UV method is simple, efficient, and suitable for the analysis and detection of seven pesticide residues in environmental water.

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Current Remineralization Agents On Enamel By Different Methods

Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to quantitatively evaluate the remineralization capacity of natural medicaments such as ginger, grape seed extract and rosemary, and materials containing casein and hydroxyapatite of initial caries lesions in vitro.. Materials and Methods: 42 enamel samples obtained from human teeth; were divided into six group as; Group-I (10% Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate [CPP-ACP], GC Tooth Mousse, Group-II (Rosemary Oil), Group-III (ginger+honey), Group-IV (ginger+honey+cocoa), Group-V (grape seed extract) and Group-VI (control group; remineralization solution). After enamel samples were kept in demineralization solution for 72 hours to create initial caries lesion, grouped remineralization agents were applied to enamel samples with caries lesion during the six-day pH cycle. Measurements were made using surface microhardness and DIAGNOdent at three different stages. The data obtained in the research were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 program. The results were evaluated at the p ginger+honey+cocoa>ginger+honey> rosemary oil > GC tooth mousse. Conclusions: : It is thought that rosemary, ginger + honey + cocoa, grape seed extract materials can be used for remineralization in these working conditions where the initial caries lesions can be remineralized after six days.

Experimental Protocols to Test Aortic Soft Tissues: A Systematic Review.

Experimental protocols are fundamental for quantifying the mechanical behaviour of soft tissue. These data are crucial for advancing the understanding of soft tissue mechanics, developing and calibrating constitutive models, and informing the development of more accurate and predictive computational simulations and artificial intelligence tools. This paper offers a comprehensive review of experimental tests conducted on soft aortic tissues, employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, based on the Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. This study includes a detailed overview of the test method protocols, providing insights into practical methodologies, specimen preparation and full-field measurements. The review also briefly discusses the post-processing methods applied to extract material parameters from experimental data. In particular, the results are analysed and discussed providing representative domains of stress-strain curves for both uniaxial and biaxial tests on human aortic tissue.

Characterization of structure and mixing in nanoparticle hetero-aggregates using convolutional neural networks: 3D-reconstruction versus 2D-projection

Structural and chemical characterization of nanomaterials provides important information for understanding their functional properties. Nanomaterials with characteristic structure sizes in the nanometer range can be characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). In conventional STEM, two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the samples are acquired, information about the third dimension is lost. This drawback can be overcome by STEM tomography, where the three-dimensional (3D) structure is reconstructed from a series of projection images acquired using various projection directions. However, 3D measurements are expensive with respect to acquisition and evaluation time. Furthermore, the method is hardly applicable to beam-sensitive materials, i.e. samples that degrade under the electron beam. For this reason, it is desirable to know whether sufficient information on structural and chemical information can be extracted from 2D-projection measurements. In the present work, a comparison between 3D-reconstruction and 2D-projection characterization of structure and mixing in nanoparticle hetero-aggregates is provided. To this end, convolutional neural networks are trained in 2D and 3D to extract particle positions and material types from the simulated or experimental measurement. Results are used to evaluate structure, particle size distributions, hetero-aggregate compositions and mixing of particles quantitatively and to find an answer to the question, whether an expensive 3D characterization is required for this material system for future characterizations.

Covalent triazine framework nanosheets for photo-enhanced uranium extraction

Uranium extraction is the cornerstone of the sustainable development of the nuclear industry. Although a variety of porous framework materials for uranium extraction have been explored over the past few decades, almost all of them have been limited to bulk powder materials. In particular, due to the strong interlayer π-π interaction, the specific recognition sites and photocatalytic active centers of bulk two-dimensional framework materials are severely buried, resulting in the inability to exploit the optimal performance of the materials. In this study, a novel hydroquinone modified covalent triazine frame nanosheets (H-CTF-NSs) is reported for the first time, which is designed for specific extraction and photocatalytic reduction of uranium. The densely distributed hydroquinone and triazine units in the H-CTF-NSs synergistically form high-affinity binding sites, and the ultrathin nanosheets facilitate the exposure of binding sites and catalytically active centers, and accelerate the diffusion of uranyl ions, it is ideally suited as an advanced platform for the selective extraction and efficient reduction of U(VI). Remarkably, H-CTF-NSs demonstrated an unprecedented uranium extraction capacity of 3230.3 mg/g, which is almost 1.71 times that of its bulk counterpart H-CTF, making it one of the best uranium-trapping photocatalysts known to date.

Application of Natural Antibacterial Plants in the Extraction of Uranium from Seawater.

Marine biofouling directly affects the performance and efficiency of uranium (U(VI)) extraction from seawater. Compared to traditional chemical methods, natural plant extracts are generally biodegradable and nontoxic, making them an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic chemicals in solving the marine biofouling problem. The effectiveness of natural antibacterial plants (i.e., pine needle, peppermint, Acorus gramineus Soland, Cacumen platycladi, and wormwood) in solving the marine biofouling problem was evaluated in this work. Experimental results showed that natural antibacterial plants could kill Vibrio alginolyticus in solution and effectively solve the marine biofouling problem of U(VI) extraction. To improve the adsorption capacity of natural plants for U(VI) in seawater, poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) was modified on natural antibacterial plant surfaces by irradiation grafting technology. PVPA and natural antibacterial plants work as active sites and base materials for the U(VI) extraction material, respectively. The recovery performance of PVPA/pine needle for U(VI) was preliminarily studied. Results show that the adsorption of U(VI) on PVPA/pine needle follows pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, and the maximum adsorption capacity is 111 mg/g at 298 K and pH 8.2.