Abstract
Inspired by single-atom catalysts (SACs), a “single-molecule” polyamidoxime (SM-PAO) adsorbent is designed to implement ultra-fast and “nothing left” enrichment of uranium in a water environment. The amphoteric property of SM-PAO is systematically characterized and discussed for the first time. The amidoxime functional groups are nearly 100% accessible due to the dissolution of SM-PAO in solution with pH below or above the isoelectric point of SM-PAO sol (∼ pH 5). The collection of uranium-loaded adsorbent is realized by virtue of the dissolution-precipitation transformation of the SM-PAO. A record high adsorption capacity, 2221.9 mg-U/g-Ads, is achieved within several minutes’ interaction and the bonding mechanism of adsorption is explained by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. An automatic cleaning of uranium-polluted wastewater to potable water is demonstrated to show the great potential of SM-PAO adsorbent for practical application.
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