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Uranium is a key resource for the development of the nuclear industry, and extracting uranium from the natural seawater is one of the most promising ways to address the shortage of uranium resources. Herein, a semiconducting covalent organic framework (named NDA‐TN‐AO) with excellent photocatalytic and photoelectric activities was synthesized. The excellent photocatalytic effect endowed NDA‐TN‐AO with a high anti‐biofouling activity by generating biotoxic reactive oxygen species and promoting photoelectrons to reduce the adsorbed UVI to insoluble UIV, thereby increasing the uranium extraction capacity. Owing to the photoinduced effect, the adsorption capacity of NDA‐TN‐AO to uranium in seawater reaches 6.07 mg g−1, which is 1.33 times of that in dark. The NDA‐TN‐AO with enhanced adsorption capacity is a promising material for extracting uranium from the natural seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A 3D cationic covalent organic framework (TFAM-BDNP) was synthesized via Zincke reaction. • TFAM-BDNP exhibits high adsorption capacity and extremely fast exchange kinetic for ReO 4 −. • TFAM-BDNP demonstrates remarkable selectivity for ReO 4 −. • TFAM-BDNP has outstanding removal efficiency of ReO 4 − from simulated Hanford flow sample. Due to the long half-life and high environmental mobility, the selective and efficient capture of TcO 4 − from nuclear effluents is very important, but it is still very challenging. Herein, we design and synthesize a novel three-dimensional (3D) cationic covalent organic framework (TFAM-BDNP) via Zincke reaction for selective capture of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 −. TFAM-BDNP exhibits high adsorption capacity (998 mg g−1) and extremely fast exchange kinetic (60 s) for ReO 4 − (the non-radioactive alternative to TcO 4 −), attributing to the open 3D hydrophobic channels, abundant active sites, and high chemical stability. More importantly, TFAM-BDNP shows good adsorption performance for ReO 4 − in the presence of significant excess competing anions with a wide pH value range of 2 to 12. Under complex simulated Hanford flow sample, TFAM-BDNP has outstanding removal efficiency of ReO 4 −. The adsorption mechanism of ReO 4 − is mainly caused by anion exchange process. This study provides a novel adsorbent for efficient capture of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − in complex environmental systems and exploits an effective strategy for broadening the types of 3D COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium is a key element in the nuclear industry and also a global environmental contaminant with combined highly toxic and radioactive. Currently, the materials based on post-modification of amidoxime have been developed for uranium detection and adsorption. However, the affinity of amidoxime group for vanadium is stronger than that of uranium, which is the main challenge hindering the practical application of amidoxime-based adsorbents. Herein, we synthesized a fluorescent covalent organic framework (TFPPy-BDOH) through integrating biphenyl diamine and pyrene unit into the π-conjugated framework. TFPPy-BDOH has an excellent selectivity to uranium due to the synergistic effect of nitrogen atom in the imine bond and hydroxyl groups in conjugated framework. It can achieve ultra-fast fluorescence response time (2 s) and ultra-low detection limit (8.8 nM), which may be attributed to its intrinsic regular porous channel structures and excellent hydrophilicity. More excitingly, TFPPy-BDOH can chemically reduce soluble U (VI) to insoluble U (IV), and release the binding site to adsorb additional U (VI), achieving high adsorption capacity of 982.6 ± 49.1 mg g−1. Therefore, TFPPy-BDOH can overcome the challenges faced by current amidoxime-based adsorbents, making it as a potential adsorbent in practical applications. [Display omitted] • A fluorescent COF (TFPPy-BDOH) is synthesized by a one-step method. • TFPPy-BDOH has ultra-fast fluorescence response time for UO 2 2+. • TFPPy-BDOH can selectively chemically reduce soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV). • TFPPy-BDOH achieves high sensitivity and selectivity for detecting and capturing UO 2 2+ in harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of phosphate in water is crucial and effective for control of eutrophication, and adsorption is one of the most effective treatment processes. In this study, microporous lanthanum-chitosan magnetic spheres were successfully synthetized and used for the removal of phosphate in water. The characterization results show that the dispersion of lanthanum oxide is improved because of the porous properties of the magnetic spheres. Moreover, the contact area and active sites between lanthanum oxide and phosphate were increased due to the presence of many honeycomb channels inside the magnetic spheres. In addition, the maximum adsorption capacity of the Langmuir model was 27.78 mg P·g−1; and the adsorption kinetics were in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and intra-particle diffusion model. From the results of thermodynamic analysis, the phosphate adsorption process of lanthanum-chitosan magnetic spheres was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. In conditional tests, the optimal ratio of lanthanum/chitosan was 1.0 mmol/g. The adsorption capacity of as-prepared materials increased with the augmentation of the dosage of the adsorbent and the decline of pH value. The co-existing anions, Cl− and NO3− had little effect on adsorption capacity to phosphate, while CO32− exhibited an obviously negative influence on the adsorption capacity of this adsorbent. In general, owing to their unique hierarchical porous structures, high-adsorption capacity and low cost, lanthanum-chitosan magnetic spheres are potentially applicable in eutrophic water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first example of vinylene-linked covalent organic framework (Tp-TMT) with enhanced uranium adsorption through combined selective ligand binding, chemical reduction and photocatalytic reduction. The dense hydroxyl functional groups on the Tp-TMT framework had good selectivity and excellent chemical reduction performance for U(VI). Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of hydroxyl groups and triazine unit significantly enhanced the photocatalytic reduction activity. Thus Tp-TMT exhibited incredible adsorption kinetics and capacity for uranium. [Display omitted] • COFs effectively capture uranium through three coordinated mechanisms. • Tp-TMT has excellent visible light conversion efficiency and low band gap. • Tp-TMT enhances uranium adsorption through selective ligand binding and reduction. • Tp-TMT exhibits incredible adsorption kinetics and capacity for uranium. So far, it remains a challenge to synthesize uranium adsorbents with robust stability, high adsorption capacity, excellent photocatalytic activity and easy regeneration. Herein, we report the first example of vinylene-linked covalent organic framework (Tp-TMT) with enhanced uranium adsorption through combined selective ligand binding, chemical reduction and photocatalytic reduction. The unique structure and excellent photocatalytic activity of Tp-TMT make it very suitable for photo-enhanced uranium adsorption through three synergistic mechanisms, thus exhibiting an outstanding uranium adsorption capacity (2362.4 mg g−1). In the dark, a large number of hydroxyl groups in the Tp-TMT framework serve as selective binding sites for uranium, and reduce part of U(VI) to U(IV), thereby greatly improving the adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, the synergistic effect of the triazine units and hydroxyl groups in the highly conjugated framework greatly decreases the optical band gap of Tp-TMT, and an additional U(VI) photocatalytic reduction process can occur under light irradiation, further increasing the adsorption kinetics and capacity. This work explored the structural and functional design of covalent organic frameworks for the adsorption and reduction of uranium in nuclear industry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Highly stable sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework (COF-PDAN-AO) was synthesized and characterization. • Acid and radiation resistant COF-PDAN-AO exhibits efficient adsorption of UO 2 2+ from radioactive wastewater. • COF-PDAN-AO possesses short adsorption equilibrium time and selectivity for uranium. • The emission of COF-PDAN-AO was selectively quenched upon adding UO 2 2+. Uranium is an important element in the nuclear industry while the discharge of radioactive wastewater can cause serious damages to the environment. In this work, an ultra-stable sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework (COF-PDAN-AO) is synthesized with amidoxime-substituted monomers for detection and efficient adsorption of uranium from radioactive wastewater. Abundant amidoxime groups laced on the open 1D channels of COF-PDAN-AO exhibit exceptional accessibility and the regular pores facilitate the mass transfer. Based on these features, COF-PDAN-AO achieves ultra-low detection limit of 6.5 nM, high uranium adsorption capacity (410 mg/g) and selective interaction with uranium. In addition, various spectroscopies verify COF-PDAN-AO possesses excellent radioresistance in acidic solution. Regeneration studies have shown that COF-PDAN-AO maintained good structural stability after seven cycles. These results indicate that our sp2 carbon conjugated COF can be potentially used for practical detection and adsorption of uranium from radioactive wastewater. This strategy can be extended to detection and extraction of other contaminants by designing the target ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]