Uranium in Seawater: A Review of the Extraction Techniques, Detection Methods, and Quantum Chemical Perspectives

Uranium dissolved in seawater represents a vast and virtually inexhaustible resource, offering a promising pathway to sustain nuclear energy production while reducing reliance on conventional mining practices. Despite this potential, its ultra-low concentration and the complexity of competing ions in marine environments make both recovery and detection highly challenging. Recent advances in material design, analytical techniques, and theoretical modeling have significantly improved the feasibility of uranium utilization from seawater. This review critically examines the progress made in enhancing uranium recovery efficiency through the development of highly selective and robust systems capable of operating under realistic marine conditions. Particular attention is given to the fundamental factors governing adsorption performance, including binding affinity, kinetics, and resistance to interference from competing species. In parallel, emerging detection strategies are evaluated for their sensitivity, reliability, and suitability for trace-level monitoring in complex matrices. Furthermore, the growing contribution of computational approaches, especially density functional theory, is highlighted for providing molecular-level understanding of uranyl interactions and guiding the rational design of next-generation materials. By integrating experimental developments with theoretical insights, this review identifies the key limitations that continue to hinder large-scale implementation and outlines future directions toward more efficient, economically viable, and sustainable uranium recovery from seawater.