Effect of water content of hydrophilic amidoxime polymer on adsorption rate of uranium from seawater

摘要

AbstractAmidoxime polymers crosslinked with tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (40 wt) and with differing water contents were prepared by poly(acrylonitrile) treatment in various quantities of toluene with hydroxylamine. Adsorption rates of uranium on the amidoxime polymers from seawater were examined in relation to their porosity. The amidoxime polymer prepared from poly(acrylonitrile) in an increasing quantity of toluene exhibits a significantly increasing water content. On the basis of mercury intrusion measurements, the increasing water content was revealed to be predominantly owing to the enhancement of porosity. The adsorption rate of uranium from seawater increased steadily with an increase of porosity, suggesting the dependence of the adsorption rate on a diffusion process of uranium into the pore domain.