Radiation synthesis of n-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone/acrylonitrile interpenetrating polymer networks and their use in uranium recovery from aqueous systems

Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs) based on Poly n-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone (PVP) and Acrylonitrile (AN) were prepared by irradiating PVP solutions prepared in AN. PVP/AN mixtures were irradiated by ⁶⁰Co-γ rays at room temperature at a dose rate of 0.5 kGy/hour. IPNs were characterized by using FT-IR and Thermal Analysis techniques. The chelating adsorbents containing amidoxime groups were prepared by the reaction of these IPNs with hydroxylamine in aqueous NaOH solution at 50°C. These amidoxime containing adsorbents were used in adsorption studies for the recovery of uranium from aqueous systems. The adsorption capacity of an IPN with equivolume fraction of PVP and amidoximated PAN was found to be 750mg UO₂²⁺/g dry amidoximated IPN.