Application of poly(vinylphosphonic acid) modified poly(amidoxime) in uptake of uranium from seawater

Yangchun He; Guangshun Hou; Xirui Lu; Pengpeng Chang; Dadong Shao

doi:10.1039/D1RA09118B

Application of poly(vinylphosphonic acid) modified poly(amidoxime) in uptake of uranium from seawater

Yangchun He,^a Guangshun Hou,^b Xirui Lu,

^c Pengpeng Chang^d and Dadong Shao

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, P. R. China
E-mail: shaodadong@126.com

^b Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, P. R. China

^c Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, P. R. China

^d CNNP Jiangsu Nuclear Power Co. Ltd., Lianyungang 222042, P. R. China

Abstract

To enhance the anti-biofouling properties and adsorption capability of poly(amidoxime) (PAO), vinylphosphonic acid (VPA, CH₂ [double bond, length as m-dash] CH-PO₃H₂) was polymerized on poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) surface by plasma technique, followed by amidoximation treatment to convert the cyano group (–C [triple bond, length as m-dash] N) into an amidoxime group (AO, –C(NH₂)N–OH). The obtained poly(vinylphosphonic acid)/PAO (PVPA/PAO) was used as an adsorbent in the uptake of U(VI) from seawater. The effect of environmental conditions on the anti-biofouling property and adsorption capability of PVPA/PAO for U(VI) were studied. Results show that the modified PVPA enhances the anti-biofouling properties and adsorption capability of PAO for U(VI). The adsorption process is well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and reached equilibrium in 24 h. Adsorption isotherms of U(VI) on PVPA/PAO can be well fitted by the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capability was calculated to be 145 mg g⁻¹ at pH 8.2 and 298 K. Experimental results highlight the application of PVPA/PAO in the extraction of U(VI) from seawater.