Fibrous adsorbents for uranium recovery from seawater prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization

The concentration of uranium in seawater is about 3 mg/m3. A predominant dissolved form of uranium in seawater is a stable uranyl tricarbonate complex, UO2(CO3)34-. Extensive research on the recovery of uranium from seawater has been conducted to replace uranium locally deposited as terrestrial ore with uranium uniformly dissolved in seawater. The adsorption method using solid adsorbents is promising for uranium recovery from seawater with regard to economic and environmental impact; the polymer adsorbent having the amidoxime (AO) group which chelates with the uranyl tricarbonate complex in seawater has been selected among various candidates. The AO fibrous adsorbents prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization and subsequent amidoximation have a high feasibility for practical use in ocean-current recovery system. (author)