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Influence of hydrophilic groups and metal-ion adsorption on polymer-chain conformation of amidoxime-based uranium adsorbents...

Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
Publication Date
Page Numbers
399 to 408
Volume
524

This study focuses on the influence of hydrophilic groups and metal-ion loading on adsorbent polymer conformation, which controls access to adsorption sites and may limit adsorption capacity. Gaining a better understanding of the factors that influence conformation may yield higher-capacity adsorbents. Polyamidoxime (PAO), deuterated-PAO polyacrylic acid diblock copolymers (d-PAO-b-PAA), and randomly configured copolymers (PAO-co-PAA) were synthesized and characterized by neutron reflectometry in air and D2O. For d-PAO-b-PAA, characterization was also performed after alkali conditioning and in simulated seawater. PAO and PAO-co-PAA, with similar molecular weight and grafting density, extended from 95-Å thickness in air to 180 and 280-Å in D2O, respectively. This result suggests that polymer swelling may cause the additional adsorption capacity observed when polymer hydrophilicity increases. Two d-PAO-b-PAA samples, A and B, with a d-PAO thickness of 55-Å swelled to 110-Å and 140-Å, respectively, with an overall thickness increase of ∼160% in D2O. After alkali conditioning, molecular interactions increased the density of PAA near the PAO-PAA interface, while the d-PAO thickness only decreased by ∼10 Å. The d-PAO thickness of both samples declined to ∼90-Å after adsorption in simulated seawater due to polymer-chain crosslinking. These results are expected to aid in improving adsorbent synthesis to increase uranium capacity.