Mussel-inspired polydopamine microspheres self-adhered on natural hemp fibers for marine uranium harvesting and photothermal-enhanced antifouling properties

The rapid development of nuclear energy and the accelerated consumption of uranium (U(VI)) ores have forced researchers to turn to marine U(VI) harvesting. However, the performance of marine U(VI) harvesting materials was challenged by the combination of ultralow concentrations of U(VI), high concentrations of various interfering ions and biofouling from abundant marine living organisms. Natural abundant hemp fibers (HFs) were adhered by mussel-inspired polydopamine microspheres (HFMPDA) during self-polymerization. Both HFs and PDA are derived from natural products with low-cost and eco-friendly properties to guarantee compatibility with biological marine environments. HFMPDA exhibits an outstanding distribution coefficient of 10.51 ± 0.51 L g⁻¹ for U(VI) and great fouling resistance. The coordination forms between the U(VI) ion and HFMPDA were investigated by density functional theory (DFT), and the antifouling property was simulated by molecular dynamics (MD) calculations. The adsorption capacity of HFMPDA is 128.43 ± 3.26 μg g⁻¹, which is 1.75 and 6.05 times higher than that of HFPDA (only covered by PDA) and V(V), respectively, after immersion for 34 days in the Yellow Sea, China. These polydopamine microspheres adhered to HF will be a photothermal marine U(VI) harvesting material with enhanced selectivity and fouling resistance.