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

Xue Xia; Zhihui Liao; Jianju Deng; Guohui Yang; Xiaoqin Nie; Chunyan Ma; Wencai Cheng; Ning Pan; Wei Zhang; Faqin Dong

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123269

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

Environ Pollut. 2024 Mar 1:344:123269. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123269. Epub 2023 Dec 28.

Authors

Xue Xia¹, Zhihui Liao¹, Jianju Deng², Guohui Yang³, Xiaoqin Nie⁴, Chunyan Ma⁴, Wencai Cheng⁴, Ning Pan⁵, Wei Zhang⁶, Faqin Dong⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
² School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
³ School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
⁴ School of National Defence Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
⁵ Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; School of National Defence Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
⁶ Analytical and Testing Center, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
⁷ School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China. Electronic address: fqdong@swust.edu.cn.

PMID: 38159627
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123269

Abstract

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 (q_e = 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 (K_d) 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.

Keywords: Adsorption; Aminoxime; Polyacrylonitrile fiber; Polyamine; Radioactive wastewater.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Oximes / chemistry
Polyamines
Uranium* / analysis
Wastewater*

Substances

Wastewater
Uranium
Polyamines
amidoxime
Oximes