Recovery of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution by amidoxime functionalized wool fibers

Surface modification of wool fibers was performed by reactions first with acrylonitrile and followed by hydroxylamine to prepare amidoxime functionalized wool fibers (Wool-g-AO). The Wool-g-AO was used for recovery of U(VI) from aqueous solution by batch experiments. The adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and effects of contact time, pH, and initial U(VI) concentration were investigated. The maximum uptake of U(VI) on Wool-g-AO was achieved at pH 5.0. Kinetic data were fitted well to pseudo second order equations. The adsorption equilibrium of U(VI) on Woo-g-AO could be defined by the Langmuir isotherm model.