Efficient cation separation based on humidity control and adsorption.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41298400.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-65607-0 and PMC identifier 12657874.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Precise ion sieving techniques are of great importance in various fields including the energy and environment. However, existing extraction methods, often associated with environmental risks, are lack of selectivity, time-consuming, and high cost. Here, we report a high-capacity sorbent made of polyacrylonitrile-chitosan composite spheres, capable of selectively adsorbing alkali or alkaline earth metal salts through controlled humidity levels, leveraging their distinct deliquescent humidity ranges. For lithium extraction specifically, this method demonstrates an extremely high adsorption capacity of 133.60 mg g<sup>-1</sup>, far above all existing adsorbents and sieves. Moreover, a rapid adsorption rate of 83.64 mg g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> is achieved, with a high selectivity and a recovery rate. Crucially, this approach is heralded for its environmental friendliness, cost-efficiency, and low energy consumption.