Polymer-coated nanoporous carbons for trace seawater uranium adsorption

Polymer-coated mesoporous carbon nanocomposites were prepared from the immobilization of acrylonitrile and acrylic acid copolymers with divinylbenzene as a crosslinker onto a mesoporous carbon framework. High surface areas were maintained after polymerization with accessible porosity. This functional nanocomposite was tested as an adsorbent for uranium from high salinity solutions. Uranium adsorption results have shown that the adsorption capacities are strongly influenced by the density of the amidoxime groups and the specific surface area.