DNA nano-pocket for ultra-selective uranyl extraction from seawater.

ABSTRACT: Extraction of uranium from seawater is critical for the sustainable development of nuclear energy. However, the currently available uranium adsorbents are hampered by co-existing metal ion interference. DNAzymes exhibit high selectivity to specific metal ions, yet there is no DNA-based adsorbent for extraction of soluble minerals from seawater. Herein, the uranyl-binding DNA strand from the DNAzyme is polymerized into DNA-based uranium extraction hydrogel (DNA-UEH) that exhibits a high uranium adsorption capacity of 6.06 mg g^-1 with 18.95 times high selectivity for uranium against vanadium in natural seawater. The uranium is found to be bound by oxygen atoms from the phosphate groups and the carbonyl groups, which formed the specific nano-pocket that empowers DNA-UEH with high s

SUBMITTER: Yuan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7659010 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature