Recently, the Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient Metal Resource Utilization and Environmental Protection at Guangxi University has made new progress in molecular sieve synthesis research. The related findings, entitled "Non-Hydrothermal In-Situ Synthesis of Ultra-High and Radiation-Resistant NaA Zeolite Microspheres for Cs⁺and Sr²⁺Remediation," have been published in Advanced Functional Materials. The paper was completed by Associate Professor Wang Kaituo from the School of Resources, Environment and Materials and doctoral student Yi Min from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, with Wang Kaituo serving as the sole corresponding author and Guangxi University as the primary affiliation.

Unlike traditional molecular sieve materials that require high-temperature/high-pressure conditions, organic templates, or secondary molding processes, GXU-NaAs employs a non-hydrothermal in-situ synthesis technique centered on geopolymer technology, achieving binder-free fabrication of high-strength zeolite microspheres for the first time. The resulting GXU-NaAs exhibits exceptional mechanical properties: a compressive strength of 22.26 MPa—significantly higher than most conventional sodium-based molecular sieves—a Vickers hardness of 395.48, and a wear rate of only 0.0087%. These properties enable it to withstand friction and impact during dynamic adsorption processes without structural breakdown or pulverization, fully addressing issues of clogging and high pressure drop common in powdered zeolites. Moreover, after exposure to 500 kGy irradiation, GXU-NaAs retains 99% of its compressive strength and 99% of its Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ adsorption capacity, demonstrating exceptional stability in radioactive environments. This work not only resolves the limitations of traditional molecular sieves—low mechanical strength, post-irradiation performance degradation, and clogging—but also offers an integrated solution combining high strength, radiation resistance, and high adsorption efficiency for nuclear wastewater treatment.

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation, and the Guangxi Graduate Education Innovation Program.