Unlocking Uranium from Oceans: How Rare-Earth Metal Could Simplify and Economize Extraction
Discovering uranium in 1789 initially led to its application as a colorant in pottery. However, over time, it has transitioned into a coveted resource, serving the nuclear energy industry and medical field. This transformation underscores its increasing importance and utility.
Abundance and Detection Advantage
Uranium, more abundant than gold, possesses an innate advantage: it emits a distinctive radiation signature as it decays, simplifying its detection.
Historically, uranium supplies have comfortably met demand. However, concerns have arisen due to the global shift towards cleaner energy, like nuclear power, which necessitates securing new supplies.
The Challenge of Oceanic Uranium
A significant repository of uranium resides in the world’s oceans, exceeding what’s found in terrestrial deposits by over a thousandfold. Yet, the obstacle to its utilization lies in its extreme dilution in seawater.
This arises from the substantial presence of other substances like salt and minerals, such as iron and calcium, far outweighing uranium.
The Quest for an Effective Extraction Technique
Dr. Jessica Veliscek Carolan and her team have explored layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials. These highly adaptable materials exhibit promise in uranium extraction and other metals.
LDH materials possess layers with positive and negative charges that can be customized for the selective extraction of specific substances, with uranium being a primary focus.
Experiments simulating seawater conditions led to the refinement of the extraction technique. Notably, the introduction of neodymium proved highly efficient in isolating uranium from abundant elements in ocean water.
Beyond Uranium Harvesting: A Solution for Radioactive Wastewater
This breakthrough offers a means to gather new uranium supplies and the potential to address the radioactive wastewater generated by the nuclear industry. The simplicity and cost-effectiveness of producing these materials make them a promising choice for large-scale uranium extraction.
This innovation holds the promise of revolutionizing uranium extraction from oceans and contributes to improving cleaner, sustainable energy sources.
Read the original article on Energy Advances.
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