A Greener Amidoximation Process for Fabrication of Popular Uranium Complexing Fiber Using Water as the Single Solvent

[Image: see text] A mixed water-organic solvent used for amidoximation increased the production cost of an amidoxime-based polymer sorbent and was not environmentally friendly as well. In this work, the amidoximation of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber co-grafted with acrylonitrile and methacrylic acid was carried out in aqueous solution without the use of an organic solvent. The effects of amidoximation parameters including NH(2)OH concentration, temperature, time, and various solvents on the uranium adsorption performances in both uranium-spiked brine and simulated seawater were investigated. Results indicated that the optimal amidoximation parameters were 5% (w/v) NH(2)OH, 80 °C, and 24 h. The uranium adsorption capacities of the sorbents amidoximated in aqueous solution were comparable with those of sorbents amidoximated in the various mixed water-organic solvents. Moreover, in comparison with both acidic (pH ∼3) and alkalic (pH ∼11) aqueous solution, the sorbent amidoximated in neutral (pH ∼7) NH(2)OH aqueous solution achieved higher uranium adsorption capacities in both uranium-spiked brine (112.4 mg/g) and simulated seawater (7.4 mg/g). Additionally, potassium hydroxide (KOH) treatment was a necessary process and indeed significantly increased the uranium adsorption capacity.