Theory-Guided Design of a Method to Obtain Competitive Balance between U(VI) Adsorption and Swaying Zwitterion-Induced Fouling Resistance on Natural Hemp Fibers

Efficient purification of low-level uranium-containing wastewater by polyamine/amidoxime synergistically reinforced fiber

The removal and recovery of uranium [U(VI)] from organic containing wastewater has been a challenging in radioactive wastewater purification. Here, we designed a polyamine/amidoxime polyacrylonitrile fiber (PAN-AO-A) with high removal efficiency, excellent selectivity, excellent organic resistance and low cost by combining the anti-organic properties of amidoxime polyacrylonitrile fiber (PAN-AO-A) with the high adsorption capacity of polyamine polyacrylonitrile fiber, which is used to extract U(VI) from low-level uranium-containing wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen and organic content. PAN-AO-A adsorbent with high grafting rate (86.52%), high adsorption capacity (qe = 618.8 mg g-1), and strong resistance to organics and impurity interference is achieved. The adsorption rate of U(VI) in both real organic and laundry wastewater containing uranium is as high as 99.7%, and the partition coefficients (Kd) are 7.61 × 105 mL g-1 and 9.16 × 106 mL g-1, respectively. The saturated adsorption capacity of PAN-AO-A in the continuous system solution can reach up to 505.5 mg g-1, and the concentration of U(VI) in the effluent is as low as 1 μg L-1. XPS analysis and Density functional theory (DFT) studies the coordination form between U(VI) and PAN-AO-A, where the most stable structure is η2-AO(UO2)(CO3)2. The -NH-/-NH2 and -C(NH2)N-OH groups of PAN-AO-A exhibit a synergistic complex effect in the U(VI) adsorption process. PAN-AO-A is a material with profound influence and limitless potential that can be used for wastewater containing U(VI) and organic matter.