Self-floating COF/chitosan aerogel for light-induced enhanced gold recovery

作者：Weikang Guo, Yufeng Wang, Zhikai Wang, Yingji Zhao, Qin Shuai, Zhaochu Hu, Yusuke Yamauchi, Lijin Huang · 发表于：Chemical Engineering Journal · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.cej.2025.169554 · 被引用次数：24 · 研究领域：Catalytic Processes in Materials Science、ZnO doping and properties、Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted significant attention as photostimulus-responsive adsorbents for selective gold (Au) recovery. However, their practical scalability is hindered by issues such as particle agglomeration, high costs, and limited light utilization efficiency. Herein, a cost-efficient self-floating COF/chitosan (CS) aerogel is developed that significantly enhances gold recovery efficiency under light irradiation. The incorporation of CS not only reduces the cost, but also endows the resulting COF/CS aerogel with self-floating ability, accelerating the utilization efficiency of light. Benefiting from synergistic effects of coordination interaction, chemical reduction, photothermal, and photocatalytic reduction, this new COF/CS aerogel achieves a high adsorption capacity of 2152 mg g −1 and fast equilibrium kinetics. In addition, the aerogel demonstrates excellent selectivity in recovering gold from real electronic waste (e-waste) leachates. Furthermore, the capture mechanisms of Au(III) by the resulting COF/CS aerogel are verified by spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses. This study underscores the significant potential of the self-floating COF aerogel as a practical solution for the light-induced enhanced extraction of gold from e-waste, positioning it for large-scale applications in sustainable resource management.