Photocatalytic Reduction Mechanism of U(VI) from Uranium Mining Wastewater by Cyano-Functionalized C3N4/ZnIn2S4 Heterojunction Materials

• • Cyano-functionalized C3N4/ZnIn2S4 (CCN/ZIS) achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 123.65 mg·g−1 for U(VI), significantly enhancing selective enrichment from wastewater. • • Under visible light, CCN/ZIS removed over 95% of U(VI) within 10 minutes, representing a 20-fold improvement over pristine materials, enabling rapid treatment. • • The material maintained stable performance in the presence of high concentrations of CO3^2− and F−, demonstrating robustness against common interfering ions in real uranium mining wastewater. • • Quenching experiments confirmed that e− and ·O2− are the primary reactive species driving U(VI) reduction, providing mechanistic insight for optimizing photocatalytic systems.