Adsorption Performance in Sea Water of Amidoxime Nonwoven Fabrics Prepared by Radiation-Induced Cografting of Acrylonitrile and Methacrylic Acid

Abstract

Acrylonitrile and methacrylic acid were cografted onto an electron-beam-irradiated polypropylene-based nonwoven fabric. The cyano group produced was converted to an amidoxime group through a reaction with hydroxylamine at different reaction times. The amount of uranium adsorbed in sea water was determined by means of a floating-contact mode. One hour of amidoximation provided an adsorbed amount of 1.7 g-U per kg of adsorbent after 60 days of contact. The amount of vanadium adsorbed was twice that of uranium.