Functionalized Porphyrin MOF With Embedded Magnetic Core for Rapid and Recyclable Photocatalytic Uranium Extraction

Efficient uranium extraction is crucial for sustainable environmental remediation. Zirconium-based porphyrin metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emerge as promising photocatalysts for this purpose. Herein, a series of magnetic core-shell photocatalysts (MNPs@PN-PCN-222, MNPs@PN-PCN-223, and MNPs@PN-MOF-525) is prepared via a one-pot solvothermal approach, functionalized with phosphate groups (PN) for uranium affinity. Comprehensive characterization confirms successful PN grafting onto MOF surfaces and reveals a pronounced redshift in optical absorption to ≈700 nm due to MNP incorporation, significantly enhancing visible-light harvesting. Under visible irradiation, MNPs@PN-PCN-222 achieves a record uranium adsorption capacity of 1.2 g g^-1 (62% extraction efficiency), representing a 9.3 times enhancement over dark conditions. The photocatalyst maintains >80% efficiency over four reuse cycles, demonstrating exceptional stability and magnetic recoverability. This work establishes a generalizable platform for designing high-performance, recyclable zirconium-porphyrin photocatalysts for nuclear wastewater treatment.