新しい海水ウラン捕集システムの提案

抄録

A braid adsorbent having the functional group of amidoxime is a promising material for the recovery of uranium (U) dissolved in the seawater. This long braid adsorbent was made by polyethylene multi-fibers in which amidoxime groups were introduced by radiation-induced graft polymerization and a subsequent chemical treatment. The braid adsorbent obtained was moored at the offing of Okinawa Island. The average U adsorption of the adsorbent became 1.5g-U/kgadsorbent for 30d soaking.The mooring system for braid adsorbent has possibility which reduced the cost for the recovery of U from seawater. Annual product of 1,200 tons of U needs 134km²of mooring area. In addition, there is 6,000 km² and more of suitable sea area for the collection of the U in the regions from Okinawa Islands to Tosa Bay in Japan.