Use of amidoximated hydrogel for removal and recovery of U(VI) ion from water samples

Poly(acrylamidoxime-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMSA) hydrogel was prepared by copolymerization of acrylonitrile and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid as monomer, N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) as crosslinking agent and potassium peroxodisulfate as initiator. Amidoximated copolymer network was prepared by the reaction of copolymer network with hydroxylamine hydrochloride. A batch procedure was used for the determination of the characteristics of the U(VI) solid phase extraction from the amidoximated hydrogel. The determination of U(VI) was performed by spectrophotometric method using arsenazo-III as complexing agent. Optimal pH value for the quantitative preconcentration was 3, and full desorption was achieved with 3 mol L⁻¹ HClO₄. The adsorption process can be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the equilibrium adsorption isotherm was closely fitted with the Langmuir model. A preconcentration factor of 20 and the three sigma detection limit of 2.8 μg L⁻¹ (n = 20) were achieved for uranium(VI) ions. The PAMSA hydrogel was used for separating and preconcentrating the uranyl ion existing in sea water samples, thermal spring water samples and the certified reference materials (TMDA 64; fortified lake water sample).