Synthesis of mesoporous silica-tethered phosphonic acid sorbents for uranium species from aqueous solutions

- Mesoporous silica with phosphonic acid groups is synthesized under weak acid conditions.
- This synthesis is affordable because sodium metasilicate is used instead of TEOS.
- Ordered mesostructures are formed at lower concentrations of P-containing silane.
- Plugged mesostructures are formed at higher concentrations of this silane.
- Uranium recovery under seawater conditions is affected by organic loading and porosity.