Carbon fiber/metal–organic framework composites for process integration of uranium extraction with seawater desalination

Abstract Uranium, a critical fuel for nuclear power generation, is essential for energy security and low‐carbon transitions. Seawater desalination concentrate (SDC) with approximately twice the uranium concentration of seawater represents a highly promising source for uranium extraction. In this study, we synthesized carbon fiber (CF)/UiO‐66‐AO composites (CF@UiO‐66‐AO) via a template‐free aqueous synthesis approach. The prepared materials demonstrated outstanding uranium adsorption capabilities, reaching a maximum capacity of 743.15 mg/g. Notably, they demonstrated excellent salt resistance in SDC and achieved an exceptional adsorption capacity of 15.8 mg/g, representing a 2.4‐fold increase over seawater (6.63 mg/g). Furthermore, the uranium extraction is integrated with the seawater desalination process, so that it can leverage the infrastructure and energy streams and increase the overall economics. The present work establishes the foundational materials science and engineering framework necessary to advance seawater‐derived uranium extraction from laboratory‐scale demonstrations toward viable scale‐up implementation. These advancements are pivotal for nuclear energy sustainability.