How to increase the efficiency of taking uranium from seawater 4 times

Scientists have developed a special mechanical needle network to recover uranium from seawater, which is four times more efficient than current methods.

Researchers, led by chemistry professor Venbina Lin of the University of North Carolina (USA), have found a needle network that can recover uranium-soluble ions in seawater. So far, the most advanced technologies to filter uranium from seawater use synthetic fibers, covering a layer of chemicals combined with uranium.

Different from current methods, a new grid, laboratory testing proved to be at least four times more effective, and easily separated from this popular nuclear fuel from the water.

In the future, it will provide reactors a source of cheap alternative materials to clean up water contaminated by radioactive substances.

Photo: heraldsun.com.au

The structure of metallurgical compounds is considered to be very promising for the application of technology, to store gas and to separate the mixture of substances. It is possible to adjust that structure to be used for many different purposes, for example turning them into porous materials to make absorbent materials. In addition, it is possible to 'train' the metallized polymer to 'trap' molecules with a mixture of different substances.

In the world's oceans there are about 4 million tons of uranium dissolved, which is 600 times greater than the total amount of uranium inland. But the exploitation of uranium in the sea is extremely complicated because the content is too low, only 3 parts per billion.

According to current technologies, a lot of polymer adsorbent materials (in the form of plastic) must be used, if applied massively, it could lead to flooding of oceans, obstruction of sea traffic, otherwise picked up in a few weeks.

In addition, with this method, along with uranium, one has to 'attach' to many other 'useless' ions, not sure what to do. These things make it impossible to extract uranium from seawater. The cost of uranium will be very high, from 1,000 to 2,000 USD / ton. This is 10 to 20 times more expensive than the market price.

New materials can turn things around because it achieves much higher efficiency. In the laboratory 1g of needle-absorbing material can recover more than 200mg of uranium. It is a bad indicator.

Researchers say the new technology could significantly reduce the cost of extracting uranium from seawater. Even if land uranium is only twice as much as urane from seawater, the competitiveness of new technology will prevail.