Uranium　is　one　of　the　most　hazardous　elements　due　to　its　long　half-life　and　chemical　toxicity　to　living　organisms　that　occurs　in　surface,　subsurface　water,　and　radioactive　wastewater　normally　in　the　soluble　UO22+　form.　However,　it　is　a　challenge　to　rapidly　and　highly　selectively　separate　UO22+　from　complex　aqueous　environments.　Here,　we　innovatively　propose　a　secure,　environmental,　and　sustainable　approach　to　proficiently　capture　UO22+.　A　nano-ZnS/alkali-activated　collagen　fiber　composite　(ZnS-AACF)　was　successfully　fabricated　via　the　facile　in-situ　growth　method,　in　which　collagen　fibers　derived　from　leather　waste　act　as　the　substrate.　Notably,　the　composite　ZnS-AACF　presents　good　radiation　resistance　and　wide　pH　durability　(pH　=　2–11).　Moreover,　ZnS-AACF　has　the　high　maximum　adsorption　capacity　(qmU　=　359.72　mg/g),　fast　kinetics,　and　excellent　selectivity　for　UO22+.　ZnS-AACF　can　selectively　capture　UO22+　in　the　presence　of　a　variety　of　excess　competitive　ions　such　as　Fe3+,　Ni2+,　Cu2+,　VO3-,　and　UO22+.　Even　in　highly　saline　environments　with　ultra-high　concentrations　of　K+,　Ca2+,　Na+,　Mg2+,　Cl-,　HCO3–,　SO42-,　and　Br-　ions,　ZnS-AACF　can　still　achieve　the　selective　removal　for　UO22+.　Furthermore,　ZnS-AACF　can　serve　as　a　stationary　phase　in　columns　facilitating　the　dynamic　and　efficient　separation　of　UO22+　with　qmU　up　to　243.69　mg/g.　The　adsorption　mechanism　of　ZnS-AACF　for　UO22+　is　revealed　to　be　the　synergistic　action　between　functional　groups　on　the　collagen　fibers　and　nano-ZnS.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.