Irradiation-Assisted Functionalization of Hierarchically Porous Boron Nitride for Ultrafast Uranium Removal from Radioactive Sewage

Decontamination of uranium (U) from radioactive sewage is crucial for sustainable development of the nuclear industry and human health. In order to develop a high-performance adsorbent for efficient U removal from radioactive sewage, terpyridine (TPy)-functionalized hierarchically porous boron nitride (HPBN-TPy) was prepared by feasible irradiation-assisted functionalization. The pretreatment of HPBN by γ irradiation is the key of functionalization for introducing active defect sites in inert boron nitride (BN). On this basis, amino and terpyridine functionalization was carried out successively. Large specific surface area and TPy groups with strong affinity for U resulted in high adsorption amount; the investigation of mechanism confirmed that TPy groups adsorbed U through the chelation of three pyridine moieties to one UOuman health. In order to develop a high-performance adsorbent for efficient U removal from radioactive sewage, terpyridine (TPy)-functionalized hierarchically porous boron nitride (HPBN-TPy) was prepared by feasible irradiation-assisted functionalization. The pretreatment of HPBN by γ irradiation is the key of functionalization for introducing active defect sites in inert boron nitride (BN). On this basis, amino and terpyridine functionalization was carried out successively. Large specific surface area and TPy groups with strong affinity for U resulted in high adsorption amount; the investigation of mechanism confirmed that TPy groups adsorbed U through the chelation of three pyridine moieties to one UO₂²⁺ ion. Abundant hierarchical mesopores provided a sufficient mass transfer channel for U, which together with low mass transfer resistance from the small size of TPy groups caused the ultrafast adsorption kinetics for U, and adsorption reached equilibrium within 30 s. Moreover, HPBN-TPy displayed outstanding adsorption selectivity, irradiation resistance, and reusability, which endowed HPBN-TPy with great prospects for industrial removal of U from radioactive sewage. This study offered an efficient method for the efficient functionalization of inert BN materials and provided new insight for U removal from radioactive sewage.