Potential of chitin/chitosan-bearing materials for uranium recovery: An interdisciplinary review

Isolated mollusk shells and crustacean exoskeletons adsorb from waters almost twice their weight of Pb in a few minutes. Likewise, the chitin-based sorbents of animal and fungal origin adsorb U and transuranium elements: some are manufactured commercially in a form suitable for high flow-rates. Supported viable Trichoderma harzianum is quite effective in collecting microcrystals of U oxides. Chitosan as well can induce deposition of mixed U oxides, to the point that the final material contains a prevailing inorganic component. Metal-reducing bacteria also offer good performances. These data are exploitable for preventing pollution in civilian operations: the pollution case of Colonie, NY, is discussed in the light of the high toxicity of uranium. The disappointing results of the programs aimed at the collection of uranium from seawater with the aid of synthetic poly(amidoamine) induce to envisage that chitin/chitosan-bearing materials might be involved in the future exploitation of the marine uranium resources.