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Layered Bio-Inorganic MXene Membranes: A Green Approach for Uranium Extraction from Seawater Using Genetically
Xiaonan Mao1,2,3, Lijuan Qian1,2,3, Longlong Tian1,2,3
1Frontiers Science Center for Rare Isotopes, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Nano Letters
|November 14, 2024
Summary
Engineered bacteria and MXene create a novel composite membrane for efficient uranium extraction from seawater. This bioinorganic hybrid membrane offers a sustainable solution for clean energy resource development.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Growing demand for clean energy necessitates efficient uranium extraction technologies.
- Seawater represents a vast, largely untapped reservoir of uranium.
- Current extraction methods face challenges in efficiency and environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel composite membrane for highly selective and efficient uranium extraction from seawater.
- To combine the advantages of biological engineering and nanomaterials for enhanced membrane performance.
- To assess the industrial applicability of the developed membrane for uranium recovery.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a bioinorganic hybrid membrane using engineered *Escherichia coli* expressing super uranyl-binding protein (SUP) integrated within a 2D MXene (Ti3C2Tx) layer.
- Characterization of the membrane's structure, mechanical properties, and selectivity for uranyl ions.
- Experimental evaluation of ion screening performance, including uranyl/vanadium and sodium/uranyl selectivity.
- Assessment of cyclic stability and separation performance for industrial application potential.
Main Results:
- The composite membrane demonstrated ultrahigh selectivity for uranyl ions due to the SUP protein.
- Engineered *E. coli* enhanced the membrane's mechanical strength and cost-effectiveness.
- Precise recognition of uranyl ions and excellent ion screening performance were achieved (SFU/V ≈ 43, SFNa/U ≈ 158).
- The membrane exhibited excellent separation performance and cyclic stability, indicating industrial potential.
Conclusions:
- The developed bioinorganic hybrid membrane presents a green and sustainable approach for uranium extraction from seawater.
- This innovative method integrates biological engineering and nanomaterial science for efficient clean energy resource development.
- The findings represent a significant advancement in environmentally friendly and effective uranium recovery technologies.
