Zhang, ShouxinLi, XiaodongHuang, XinhuiSzlachta, MalgorzataBao, HongliXu, Junhua2025-06-132025-06-132025-09Zhang, S, Li, X, Huang, X, Szlachta, M, Bao, H & Xu, J 2025, 'Highly selective uranium separation using sulfonic acid-functionalized hierarchically porous zirconium phosphate : modelling and mechanism study', Materials Science & Engineering. B, Solid-State Materials for Advanced Technology, vol. 319, 118342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2025.118342http://hdl.handle.net/10138/597702The growing challenges of nuclear pollution necessitate the development of advanced sorption materials with high efficiency and improved selectivity. In this work, a hierarchical porous zirconium phosphate sorbent (H-ZrP) was synthesized via a facile self-assembly strategy, and its sulfonic acid-functionalized derivative (H-ZrP-SO3H) was developed for selective U(VI) removal. Comprehensive characterization demonstrates that H-ZrP possesses a unique hierarchical pore architecture, high specific surface area, and excellent thermal stability. Batch experiments reveal that both materials exhibit exceptional U(VI) sorption capacities: 372.4 mg g 1 for H- ZrP and 290.5 mg g 1 for H-ZrP-SO3H. Kinetic and isotherm analyses confirm chemisorption-dominated monolayer sorption, well-described by pseudo-second-order (R2 > 0.99) and Langmuir models (R2 > 0.98). H-ZrP-SO3H achieves higher selectivity in V/U systems despite reduced porosity due to optimized surface charge interactions. H-ZrP and H-ZrP-SO3H demonstrate outstanding reusability, retaining > 99 % removal efficiency after five sorption–desorption cycles with preserved structural integrity. Surface complexation modelling reveals that the sorption process is dominated by a multi-stage sorption mechanism: electrostatic attraction and surface complexation via oxygenated groups. In summary, this work presents highly efficient functionalized phosphate-based sorbents to regulate interfacial charge dynamics for enhanced U(VI) sorption.15engcc_byinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessHierarchical porousSulfonic acid-functionalizedSurface complexation modelUranium sorptionZirconium phosphateChemical sciencesArticleopenAccessc84d02fe-12dc-49b4-9088-432cf6867745105003100603001479035500001