Highly Selective Extraction of U(VI) from Solutions by Metal Organic Framework-Based Nanomaterials through Sorption, Photochemistry, and Electrochemistry Strategies

With the rapid development of nuclear technology and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy, plentiful U(VI) not only is required to be extracted from solutions for a sustainable nuclear fuel supply but also is inevitably released into the surrounding environment to result in pollution and threaten human health. Thereby, realizing selective extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solutions is crucial for U(VI) pollution control and a sustainable nuclear industry. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained multidisciplinary attention due to their excellent properties including large specific surface areas, tunable pore structures, easy functionalization, etc. This Review comprehensively summarizes the research progress of MOFs and MOF-based materials on U(VI) removal from aqueous solutions by sorption, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, membrane separation, etc. The efficient high extraction ability is dependent on the intrinsic properties of MOFs and the techniques used. The removal properties of MOF-based materials as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and electrocatalysts for U(VI) are discussed. Information about the interaction mechanisms between U(VI) and MOF-based materials are analyzed in-depth, including experiments, theoretical calculations, and advanced spectroscopy analysis. The removal properties for U(VI) of various MOF-based materials are assessed through different techniques. Finally, a summary and perspective on the direction and challenges of MOF-based materials and various pollutant removal technologies are proposed to provide some significant information on designing and fabricating MOF-based materials for environmental pollution management.