The material for managing and monitoring waste made from the waste itself is an excellent example of cyclic utilization, which could reduce issues and be more sustainable. A three-dimensional porous uranyl phosphonate MOF (UPF-105) was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. UPF-105 is stable in aqueous solution with pH in the range of 1-11 and maintains crystallinity below 215 °C. The uncoordinated phosphonate groups in the channels act as functional anchors to selectively capture uranyl ions, with a maximum uranium adsorption capacity of 170.23 mg g-1. The fluorescence of UPF-105 makes it a good candidate for a uranyl ion sensor in uranium-contaminated solutions with concentrations in the range of 5-90 ppm.
Keywords: MOFs; adsorption; fluorescence; phosphonate; uranium.