One-Step Synthesis of Porphyrin-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Efficient Uranium Extraction

Photocatalytic H2O2 production coupled with uranyl ion complexation to form UO2(O2) precipitates provides an energy-efficient solution for uranium recovery. However, the currently used photocatalysts often require sacrificial agents and lack stability. Herein, a porphyrin-based conjugated microporous polymer, Bpy-Por-CMP, was synthesized via a one-step method utilizing pyrrole- and aldehyde-based ligands. Bpy-Por-CMP exhibited a high uranium extraction rate of 95.4% under simulated sunlight without sacrificial agents, maintaining over 94.0% efficiency across a pH range of 3–9. In contrast with biphenyl ligands, bipyridine ligands were found to construct a donor–acceptor structure with the porphyrins. This unique structure enhances photoinduced charge separation, facilitating effective photocatalytic H2O2 production and uranium extraction. This work demonstrates the application of a bipyridyl porphyrin-based conjugated microporous polymer for uranium extraction via the UO2(O2)-based approach under non-sacrificial and ambient conditions. The chemical stability and high uranium extraction performance of this material highlight its practical application in nuclear wastewater treatment.