Trace Zinc-Preload for Enhancement of Uranium Adsorption Performance and Antifouling Property of AO-Functionalized UHMWPE Fiber

Varieties of microorganisms in seawater exhibit negative effects on the performance of adsorbents in uranium uptake from seawater. In this study, a novel adsorbent with excellent antifouling property was synthesized by preloading trace zinc ions in amidoxime (AO)-functionalized UHMWPE fiber. The zinc ions preloaded onto the adsorbents not only gave antimicrobial properties to Aspergillus niger, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Vibrio alginolyticus but also enhanced the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents from 10.0 to 13.7 mg.g(-1) and the adsorption rates from 8.72 X 10(-3) to 14.54 X 10(-3) g.mg(-1).h(-1) in simulated seawater. Furthermore, the uranium uptake from natural seawater was increased from 0.19 to 0.29 mg.g(-1), with less fouling adhering onto the surface of the adsorbents preloaded with zinc. These findings suggest that preloading with trace zinc ions to adsorbent might inhibit fouling, as well as enhance adsorption performance in uranium extraction from seawater.