Evaluation of a beta-diketone-imbedded polyurethane foam

A beta-diketone-imbedded polyurethane foam was made for the sorption of uranium from aqueous solutions. The incorporation of the beta-diketone functional group into the polyurethane foam was simple, and relatively inexpensive. The beta-diketone foam was ground to facilitate the evaluation of its ability to extract uranium from aqueous solutions with a wide range of temperature and pH values. The beta-diketone material showed superior extractability of uranium from solutions with pH 7 +/- 3. In general, the beta-diketone material showed greater extractability of uranium at all temperatures and pH values tested when compared to a blank polyurethane foam without the beta-diketone functional group.