Post electro-catalytically produced H2O2 induced the formation of nano-uranyl peroxide from uranyl(VI)-containing wastewater
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Nuclear energy is widely regarded as one of the most clean, low-carbon and highly efficient baseload energies, which can effectively solve for environmental pollution issues from traditional fossil energy sources. However, uranium-containing wastewater associated with the development of nuclear energy, such as mining, refining and spent fuel reprocessing, poses a potential threat to the health of human beings and environmental ecosystems. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an environment-friendly and efficient oxidant with a wide range of applications in many fields. The traditional industrial anthraquinone process for H2O2 requires complex infrastructure and is not feasible for small-scale operations. Therefore, developing high-performance catalysts for the small-scale and efficient production of H2O2 by photo/electro-catalytic processes can be straightforwardly consumed with hexavalent uranyl ions (U(VI)) for uranium-containing wastewater treatment. In this paper, aiming to the post electro-catalytically produced H2O2, we utilized the electrochemical H2O2 products to systematically investigate the influences of different environmental media on between the reaction of H2O2 and U(VI), including H2O2 concentration, initial U(VI) concentration, temperature, pH and interfering ions through the batch experiments. The results show that the removal efficiencies of high U(VI) concentration by 6.72 mM H2O2 were up to 100% at pH = 3.0 and pH = 6.0, and nano-uranyl peroxide were formed in the majority of interfering ions except (Cu2+, Fe3+, VO3−) ions. This study demonstrates the great potential of electrocatalytic production of H2O2 to induce the formation of nano-uranyl peroxide from uranium-containing wastewater.
Source: Scientia Sinica Chimica
Authors: Xinyue Zhang, Xinying Lei, Hongfei Sun, Shengkai Zhang, Jingxuan Xu, Tao Wen
Language: English
Subfield: Inorganic Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4404620186