Uranium Recovery from Seawater Using Low-Density and High-Density Polyethylene Sheets Grafted with Amidoxime Functional Group
Abstract
This research studied uranium recovery from seawater using polyethylene sheets grafted with amidoxime functional group to adsorb uranium. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets with different thicknesses were grafted with acrylonitrile and methacrylic acid monomers using simultaneous irradiation technique with the gamma ray dose of 40 kGy. The cyano group grafted onto the film surface was converted into the amidoxime functional group by reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Results revealed that the degree of cografting of a 200-mm thick film was 14% lower than that of a 100-mm thick film, and that the degree of cografting of LDPE film was higher than that of HDPE film. Because a high degree of cografting results in a high amidoxime group density and an enhanced uranium adsorption from seawater, a thin LDPE film is suitable as a substrate to synthesize the uranium adsorbent. After submerging the 100-mm thick amidoximated LDPE film in seawater in a laboratory for 1 month, the uranium adsorption capacity was evaluated to be 0.42 g/kg adsorbent. Keywords uranium recovery, seawater, amidoxime functional group, radiation grafting, polyethylene sheetReferences
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Wang, H., Chen, S., & Zhang, J. (2009). Surface treatment of LLDPE and LDPE blends by nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and chromic acid etching. Colloid and Polymer Science, 287, 541–548.
Zhang, A., Asakura, T., & Uchiyama, G. (2003). The adsorption mechanism of uranium(VI) from seawater on a macroporous fibrous polymeric adsorbent containing amidoxime chelating functional group. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 57, 67–76.
Zhang, A., Uchiyama, G., & Asakura, T. (2005). pH effect on the uranium adsorption from seawater by a macroporous fibrous polymeric material containing amidoxime chelating functional group. React. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 63, 143–153.
Kawai, T., Saito, K., Sugita, K., Katakai, A., Seko, N., Sugo, T., Kanno, J., & Kawakami, T. (2000). Comparison of amidoxime adsorbents prepared by cografting MAA and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with AN onto polyethylene. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 39, 2910–2915.
Kawai, T., Saito, K., Sugita, K., Kawakami, T., Kanno, J., Katakai, A., Seko, N., & Sugo, T. (2000). Preparation of hydrophilic amidoxime fibers by cografting AN and MAA from an optimized monomer composition. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 59, 405–411.
Ku, T., Knauss, K., & Mathieu, G. (1997). Uranium in open ocean: concentration and isotopic composition. Deep-Sea Research, 24, 1005–1017.
Ratnitsai, V., Wongsawaeng, D., & Chankow, N. (2015). Enhancement of uranium extraction from seawater using chromic-acid-treated amidoxime adsorbent prepared by simultaneous irradiation grafting technique. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 52, 1151–1161.
Schwochau, K. (1984). Inorganic Chemistry. Heidelberg: Springer.
Seko, N., Tamada, M., & Yoshii, F. (2005). Current status of adsorbent for metal ions with radiation grafting and crosslinking techniques. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B, 236, 21–29.
Tamada, M. (2009). Current status of technology for collection of uranium from seawater. In 42nd Session of the International Seminar on Nuclear War and Planetary Emergencies. Italy: Erice.
Wang, H., Chen, S., & Zhang, J. (2009). Surface treatment of LLDPE and LDPE blends by nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and chromic acid etching. Colloid and Polymer Science, 287, 541–548.
Zhang, A., Asakura, T., & Uchiyama, G. (2003). The adsorption mechanism of uranium(VI) from seawater on a macroporous fibrous polymeric adsorbent containing amidoxime chelating functional group. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 57, 67–76.
Zhang, A., Uchiyama, G., & Asakura, T. (2005). pH effect on the uranium adsorption from seawater by a macroporous fibrous polymeric material containing amidoxime chelating functional group. React. Reactive and Functional Polymers, 63, 143–153.
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2017-01-10
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