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

Yihui Yuan, Tingting Liu, Juanxiu Xiao, Qiuhan Yu, Lijuan Feng, Biye Niu, Shiwei Feng, Jiacheng Zhang and Ning Wang ()
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Yihui Yuan: Hainan University
Tingting Liu: Hainan University
Juanxiu Xiao: Hainan University
Qiuhan Yu: Hainan University
Lijuan Feng: Hainan University
Biye Niu: Hainan University
Shiwei Feng: Hainan University
Jiacheng Zhang: Hainan University
Ning Wang: Hainan University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: 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 selectivity and high binding affinity. This study both provides an adsorbent for uranium extraction from seawater and broadens the application of DNA for being used in recovery of high-value soluble minerals from seawater.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19419-z

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