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

To enhance the anti-biofouling properties and adsorption capability of poly(amidoxime) (PAO), vinylphosphonic acid (VPA, CH 2 &z.dbd;CH-PO 3 H 2 ) was polymerized on poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) surface by plasma technique, followed by amidoximation treatment to convert the cyano group (-C&z.tbd;N) into an amidoxime group (AO, -C(NH 2 )&z.dbd;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. Our modified poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) enhances the anti-biofouling properties and adsorption capability of poly(amidoxime) (PAO); the PVPA/PAO presents exceptional ability in the selective uptake of U( vi ) from seawater.