High-performance functionalized polyethylene fiber for the capture of trace uranium in water

A new functionalized ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene-based chelating fiber (UHMWPE-AM) for trace uranium extraction from wastewater was synthesized by preirradiation grafting modification. Adsorption behavior of adsorbent was examined under varying conditions like solution pH, contact time, initial ion concentration and adsorbent dose. The results showed the maximum removal of U(VI) was 99.7% at pH 4. Adsorption isotherm was in agreement with Langmuir isotherm equation with the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 16.56 mg/g, and the pseudo-second-order model can well describe the kinetics process. The dominant coordination mechanism of U(VI) on the UHMWPE-AM fibers was ascribed to inner-sphere surface complexation. (author)