A Highly Efficient Chelating Polymer for the Adsorption of Uranyl and Vanadyl Ions at Low Concentrations

A new polymer containing double amidoxime groups per repeating unit was synthesized to enhance the metal ion uptake capacity. The adsorption properties of this new polymeric adsorbent, amidoximated poly(N,N-dipropionitrile acrylamide), for U(VI), V(V), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) ions were investigated by batch and flow-through processes at very low concentration levels (ppb). The chelating polymer showed high adsorption capacity for uranyl as well as vanadyl ions. In selectivity studies from a mixture of metal ions in aqueous solutions, the adsorbent showed high selectivity for uranyl and vanadyl ions in the following order: U(VI) > V(V) Co(II) = Cu(II) Ni(II) as determined by calculating the distribution coefficients D, of corresponding ions. The adsorption of uranyl and vanadyl ions from natural seawater by the new adsorbent was also examined in flow through mode.