Polymers grafted with organic phosphorous compounds for extracting uranium from solutions

An adsorbent material for removing uranium from an aqueous solution

• wherein the adsorbent material is prepared by a process of radiation grafting by using a source of ionizing radiation to graft bis(2-methacryloxyethyl) phosphate onto a polymer, while the polymer is immersed in an oxygen-free solution of the organic phosphate;
• contacting the grafted polymer with the aqueous solution that includes uranium such that the adsorbent material removes an amount of uranium, at least 0.1%, relative to the dry weight of the polymer, from the aqueous solution;
• and
• regenerating the adsorbent material at least once through desorption of the uranium using a near-neutral solution of a complexing reagent that is an aqueous solution of ammonium oxalate to remove the uranium from the phosphate-grafted polymer.

A method of removing uranium from an aqueous solution comprising the steps of:

• providing an adsorbent material produced by using a source of ionizing radiation to graft bis(2-methacryloxyethyl) phosphate onto a polymer;
• contacting the grafted polymer with the aqueous solution that includes uranium such that the adsorbent material removes an amount of uranium, at least 0.1%, relative to the dry weight of the polymer, from the aqueous solution;
• and
• regenerating the adsorbent material at least once through desorption of the uranium using a near-neutral solution of a complexing reagent that is an aqueous solution of ammonium oxalate to remove the uranium from the phosphate-grafted polymer.