Seawater to fuel the future? Chinese tech boosts uranium extraction

Chinese scientists have developed a material that significantly improves uranium extraction from seawater, potentially unlocking a vast ocean of sustainable fuel for nuclear power.

The research, published in ACS Central Science, offers hope for nations seeking to replace fossil fuels with low-carbon nuclear energy but face limited uranium reserves on land. Seawater holds an estimated 4.5 billion metric tons of uranium, 1,000 times land reserves, yet its extraction remained inefficient due to the element's extremely low concentration and abundant impurities.

Led by scientists Zhao Rui and Zhu Guangshan from Northeast Normal University, the team created a carbon fiber cloth with a unique porous structure. This "woven electrode" acts as a high-performance "magnet" for uranium oxide during an electrochemical process.

With seawater as the electrolyte and graphite as the positive electrode, the study reports extracting 12.6 milligrams of uranium from every gram of water in 24 days — the highest recorded rate so far. This achievement, the paper argues, represents a major breakthrough in seawater uranium extraction.

Nuclear power faces criticism for safety concerns and radioactive waste, but it emits virtually no greenhouse gas during operation. This makes it a valuable option for countries aiming for carbon neutrality while balancing energy security and economic growth.