Uranium adsorption from seawater is dynamics control process. Hence, designing of adsorbents with large surface area seems to be a feasible route to improve their adsorption efficiency. Electrospinning is a process that polymer fluid overcomes surface tension through electrostatic traction to produce a continuous jet and is drawn out into ultrafine nanofibers.<br/>The polyamidoxime (PAO), product of the ammoximation of PAN, is very stiff and breakable. Therefore, we have introduced a two-nozzle electrospinning process to improve the mechanical strength of PAO and avoid the poor miscibility. The SEM images of mats with different PAO content show that the diameter of ultrafine fibers is about 300 nm; the fibers are overlapped across and amounts of pores pervade the whole mats. It indicates the mats are high porous materials, which would be very helpful to enhance PAO fibers contact with sea water and improve their adsorption performance.

Nanofiber absorbents for uranium extraction from seawater

249th National Meeting (2015)

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