Synthesis of graphene gel loading TBP via a one-step method, and its application for uranyl extraction

In this paper, a kind of graphene gel loading TBP inside, named as G-TBP-Gel was prepared via by mildly reducing the graphene oxide (GO) sheets in TBP/GO/water emulsion using ascorbic acid , which is facile and time-consuming. The G-TBP-Gel was constructed by approximately spherical pores built by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets disorderly. The TBP droplets are fixed in the pores, and the total volume of TBP occupies nearly 90% volume of the G-TBP-Gel. We studied the capacities and distribution ratios of G-TBP-Gel in the application of uranium extraction under different conditions. Moreover, the G-TBP-Gel could be easily separated from the aqueous phase due to the fixation of the TBP. The residual oxygenated groups on the rGO sheets construct a network of water nano-channels, via which uranyl migrates in the process of extraction or stripping. Compared with traditional liquid-liquid extraction, the rates of extraction or stripping are much slower due to the structural factors, which still need promotion in the future.