Hierarchical build-up of vertically oriented lignin-based aerogel for photothermally assisted uranium uptake and recovery from acidic wastewater

Gao-Jie Jiao; Jiliang Ma; Jinguang Hu; Xing Wang; Runcang Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130988

Hierarchical build-up of vertically oriented lignin-based aerogel for photothermally assisted uranium uptake and recovery from acidic wastewater

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Apr 15:448:130988. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130988. Epub 2023 Feb 10.

Authors

Gao-Jie Jiao¹, Jiliang Ma², Jinguang Hu³, Xing Wang¹, Runcang Sun⁴

Affiliations

¹ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry and Biomaterials, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China.
² Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry and Biomaterials, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China. Electronic address: jlma@dlpu.edu.cn.
³ Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
⁴ Liaoning Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry and Biomaterials, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China. Electronic address: rcsun3@dlpu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36860059
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130988

Abstract

Developing the lignin-based functional materials for uranium uptake is extremely attractive, but challenging due to the complex structure, poor solubility and reactivity of lignin. Herein, a novel phosphorylated lignin (LP)/sodium alginate/ carboxylated carbon nanotube (CCNT) composite aerogel (LP@AC) with vertically oriented lamellar configuration was created for efficient uranium uptake from acidic wastewater. The successful phosphorylation of lignin by a facile solvent-free mechanochemical method achieved more than six-times enhancement in U(VI) uptake capacity of lignin. While, the incorporation of CCNT not only increased the specific surface area of LP@AC, but also improved its mechanical strength as a reinforcing phase. More importantly, the synergies between LP and CCNT components endowed LP@AC with an excellent photothermal performance, resulting in a local heat environment on LP@AC and further boosting the U(VI) uptake. Consequently, the light irradiated LP@AC exhibited an ultrahigh U(VI) uptake capacity (1308.87 mg g^-1), 61.26% higher than that under dark condition, excellent adsorptive selectivity and reusability. After exposure to 10 L of simulated wastewater, above 98.21% of U(VI) ions could be rapidly captured by LP@AC under light irradiation, revealing the tremendous feasibility in industrial application. The electrostatic attraction and coordination interaction were considered as the main mechanism for U(VI) uptake.

Keywords: Mechanochemistry; Oriented lamellar configuration; Phosphorylated lignin; Photothermal conversion; U(VI) uptake.