EVALUATION OF A BETA-DIKETONE-IMBEDDED POLYURETHANE FOAM

A beta-diketone-imbedded polyurethane foam was made for the sorption o f uranium from aqueous solutions. The incorporation of the beta-diketo ne functional group into the polyurethane foam was simple, and relativ ely inexpensive. The beta-diketone foam was ground to facilitate the e valuation of its ability to extract uranium from aqueous solutions wit h a wide range of temperature and pH values. The beta-diketone materia l showed superior extractability of uranium from solutions with pH 7 /- 3. In general, the beta-diketone material showed greater extractabi lity of uranium at all temperatures and pH values tested when compared to a blank polyurethane foam without the beta-diketone functional gro up.