Ion Imprinted Affinity Cryogels for the Selective Adsorption Uranium in Real Samples

In this research, selective adsorption of U(VI) in aqueous solutionsin the presence of various lanthanide ions by using U(VI)-imprinted cryogel polymer was conducted. For this purpose, the prepared pHEMA-(MAH)3-U(VI) cryogel polymer by free radical polymerization method. U(VI) was desorbed with 5.0 mol/L HNO3 and thus U(VI)-imprinted were created onto p-HEMA-(MAH)3 cryogel polymer. To determine the optimum conditions, in the process of selective adsorption of U(VI) ion to U(VI)-imprinted p-HEMA-(MAH)3 cryogel polymer, some parameters such as pH, flow rate, initial U(VI) concentration were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained as 74.80 mg/g. Selectivity studies were also carried out in the presence of Nd(III), La(III) and Y(III) ions using U(VI)-imprinted p-HEMA-(MAH)3 cryogel polymer. The obtained adsorption order under competitive conditions was U(VI) ˃ La(III) ˃Y(III) ˃Nd(III).