Preparation of ZnO nanoparticle loaded amidoximated wool fibers as a promising antibiofouling adsorbent for uranium(VI) recovery

In this study, nano-ZnO loaded amidoxime-functionalized wool fibers (wool-AO@ZnO) were synthesized by radiation-induced copolymerization and in situ co-precipitation as a novel adsorbent with good antibiofouling properties for uranium recovery. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by SEM-EDS and FT-IR spectroscopy. Batch adsorption experiments showed that the prepared wool-AO@ZnO have a good uranium adsorption property at pH 6.0–9.0. Meanwhile, wool-AO@ZnO displayed a good inhibition of aerobic bacteria such as S. aureus and E. coli; of anaerobic bacteria; of sulfate reducing bacteria; of fungus C. albicans and of mildew Aspergillus niger. After four cyclic cultivations with microorganisms, the inhibition rate of wool-AO@ZnO to E. coli and S. aureus still remains at 77.8% and 84.9%, respectively; and a good adsorption capacity for uranium(VI) was maintained. The prepared wool-AO@ZnO could be a promising antibiofouling adsorbent for the recovery of uranium(VI) from seawater.