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| Open AccessUnexpectedly efficient ion desorption of graphene-based materials
Desorption of ions from sorbents generally involves high acid or base concentrations and long desorption times, especially for multivalent ions. Here the authors report a rapid and efficient desorption of Co2+, Mn2+, and Sr2+ adsorbed on magnetite-graphene oxide that occurs by adding low amounts of Al3+, which is shown to interact with graphene more strongly than divalent ions.
- Xinming Xia
- , Feng Zhou
- & Haiping Fang
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Article
| Open AccessLocal and global trace plutonium contributions in fast breeder legacy soils
This study proposes a method to differentiate between local plutonium-based contamination in soils versus trace plutonium stemming from global dispersion in the past, such as fallout from detonation and atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.
- Chris Tighe
- , Maxi Castrillejo
- & Malcolm J. Joyce
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Article
| Open AccessProvenance of uranium particulate contained within Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 ejecta material
The larger particulates from reactor Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant have received sparse attention compared to the Unit 2 particulate. Here the authors perform the higher-resolution and 3-dimentional analysis of several high-density micron-scale fragments, from within a larger Unit 1-derived representative ejecta particle.
- Peter G. Martin
- , Marion Louvel
- & Thomas B. Scott
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Article
| Open AccessBio-inspired nano-traps for uranium extraction from seawater and recovery from nuclear waste
Uranium extraction is important for both uranium recovery and nuclear waste management. Here, inspired by the high sensitivity of proteins towards specific metal ions, Ma and colleagues demonstrate that introducing secondary coordination spheres into amidoxime-functionalized porous polymers can enhance their uranyl chelating abilities.
- Qi Sun
- , Briana Aguila
- & Shengqian Ma
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Article
| Open AccessA supramolecular lanthanide separation approach based on multivalent cooperative enhancement of metal ion selectivity
Lanthanide ions possess similar chemical properties, making their separation from one another challenging. Here the authors show that a tris-tridentate ligand causes high-precision metal ion self-sorting, leading to the selective assembly of tetrahedral M4L4 cages across the lanthanide series.
- Xiao-Zhen Li
- , Li-Peng Zhou
- & Qing-Fu Sun
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Article
| Open AccessCapture of organic iodides from nuclear waste by metal-organic framework-based molecular traps
Capturing radioactive organic iodides from nuclear waste is important for safe nuclear energy usage, but remains a significant challenge. Here, Li and co-workers fabricate a stable metal–organic framework functionalized with tertiary amine groups that exhibits high capacities for radioactive organic iodides uptake.
- Baiyan Li
- , Xinglong Dong
- & Jing Li
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Article
| Open AccessBiogenic non-crystalline U(IV) revealed as major component in uranium ore deposits
Crystalline uraninite is believed to be the dominant form in uranium deposits. Here, the authors find that non-crystalline U(IV) generated through biologically mediated U(VI) reduction is the predominant U(IV)species in ore deposits, implying that biogenic processes are more important than previously thought.
- Amrita Bhattacharyya
- , Kate M. Campbell
- & Thomas Borch