Phosphate-Functionalized Polyethylene with High Adsorption of Uranium(VI)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Nuclear Chemistry

Background:

• Developing effective sorbent materials for uranium extraction from seawater is crucial.
• Existing methods often lack the required stability, reusability, affinity, and selectivity for U(VI).

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a new phosphate-functionalized polyethylene (PO4/PE) sorbent for U(VI) extraction from seawater.
• To investigate the adsorption performance, kinetics, and regeneration capabilities of the developed sorbent.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of PO4/PE via Ar-jet plasma treatment of polyethylene in phosphoric acid.
• Adsorption experiments using PO4/PE for U(VI) extraction from simulated and actual seawater.
• Kinetic and isotherm modeling (second-order kinetics, Langmuir model).
• Regeneration studies using sodium carbonate solution.

Main Results:

• The synthesized PO4/PE exhibited superior performance in extracting trace U(VI) from seawater.
• Adsorption followed second-order kinetics and the Langmuir model.
• Maximum adsorption capacity reached 173.8 mg/g at pH 8.2 and 298 K.
• The sorbent was effectively regenerated with 0.1 mol/L Na2CO3 and showed good reusability over eight cycles.

Conclusions:

• Phosphate-functionalized polyethylene (PO4/PE) is a highly effective and reusable sorbent for U(VI) extraction from seawater.
• The simple plasma-based synthesis offers a viable route for developing advanced sorbent materials.
• This study presents a promising new approach for sustainable uranium recovery from marine environments.