Hyperbranched topological swollen-layer constructs of multi-active sites polyacrylonitrile (PAN) adsorbent for uranium(VI) extraction from seawater

With the depletion of terrestrial uranium deposits, a large amount of uranium(VI) (U(VI)) in seawater has attracted the attention of researchers and energy suppliers. However, the extremely low concentration of U(VI) and the complex environment enhance the difficulty of extracting U(VI) from seawater. In this study, a multiactive polyacrylonitrile (PAN) adsorbent was constructed to extract U(VI) from seawater. Poly(amido) amine (PAMAM) with hyperbranched topology was grown onto the surface of PAN fiber by a multi-step method, forming a swollen layer in water. The highest adsorption capacity of the material reached 555.5 mg/g. Importantly, during a continuous 50-day simulated seawater dynamic adsorption process, the material reached an adsorption equilibrium in 15 days, with the adsorption amount of 1.3 mg/g. The ocean test in the Yellow Sea of China showed that the adsorption capacity of the material was 0.6 mg/g in 34 days in seawater environment. The effect of molecular chain conformation and swelling behavior on adsorption properties were investigated. The study on the adsorption mechanism of the material shows that the lone pair of electrons of the N atom coordinates with U(VI).