PREPARATION OF AMIDOXIME-FIBER ADSORBENTS BASED ON POLY(METHACRYLONITRILE) FOR RECOVERY OF URANIUM FROM SEAWATER

Polymerization of methacrylonitrile was performed with anionic initiat ors as reported in the literature. The molecular weight of the polymer produced using BuLi as initiator at 0 +/- 2-degrees-C was on the orde r of 10(5). Maximum conversion was 97% with BuLi initiator. For compar ison, methacrylonitrile was polymerized with diethylmagnesium in dioxa ne at 70-degrees-C. High-molecular weight polymers with 50-60% convers ions were produced by diethylmagnesium initiator. The polymethacryloni trile obtained by BuLi initiator was used for the fiber production pro cess. The conversion of nitrile was performed by treatment with 3% NH2 OH in MeOH at 80-degrees-C. The amidoxime-fiber adsorbent gave a large adsorption rate, such as 176 mug of U/g of adsorbent/day, in a batchw ise seawater adsorption test.