Selective solid-phase extraction of uranium by salicylideneimine-functionalized hydrothermal carbon

► Hydrothermal carbon material as solid-phase extractant matrix. ► An excellent hexavalent cation ligand, salicylideneimine, is grafted on the matrix. ► Adsorbent shows high affinity and selectivity to U(VI) in simulated nuclear effluent. ► Process is fast, endothermic, spontaneous, and pseudo-second-order chemisorption.