Poly(amidoxime)-reduced graphene oxide composites as adsorbents for the enrichment of uranium from seawater

The development of efficient materials for high extraction of uranium (UO2 (2+)) from seawater is critical for nuclear energy. Poly(amidoxime)-reduced graphene oxide (PAO/rGO) composites with excellent adsorption capability for UO2 (2+) were synthesized by in situ polymerization of acrylonitrile monomers on GO surfaces, followed by amidoximation treatment with hydroxylamine. The adsorption capacities of PAO/rGO composites for UO2 (2+) reached as high as 872 mg/g at pH 4.0. The excellent tolerance of these composites for high salinity and their regeneration-reuse properties can be applied in the nuclear-fuel industry by high extraction of trace UO2 (2+) ions from seawater.