PANI/GO as a super adsorbent for the selective adsorption of uranium(VI)

•PANI/GO composites present excellent selective adsorption properties for U(VI).•Adsorption capacities of PANI/GO composites achieve to 1960mg/g at pH 5.0.•PANI/GO composites present ideal tolerance to high salt concentrations.•PANI/GO composites present excellent regeneration–reuse property. In this paper, polyaniline modified graphene oxide (PANI/GO) composites were synthesized by in situ polymerization technique, and applied to preconcentrate U(VI) from aqueous solutions. The PANI/GO composites have exceptionally capability in selective extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solution under a variety of conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities of PANI/GO composites for U(VI) achieve to 1960mg/g at pH 5.0 and 610mg/g at pH 3.5, which are two orders of magnitude higher than those of traditional adsorbents and today’s nanomaterials. PANI/GO composites also present ideal tolerance to high salt concentrations and excellent regeneration–reuse property. Thereby, PANI/GO composites have exceptional potential applications in the extraction of U(VI) from aqueous solution in nuclear fuel achievement and for U(VI) environmental pollution cleanup.