Nobel system for uranium recovery from seawater

Seko, Noriaki; Kasai, Noboru; Shimizu, Takao*; Tamada, Masao

Braid adsorbent having functional group of amidoxime is a promising material for the recovery of uranium dissolved in the seawater. This long braid adsorbent was made by polyethylene multi-fibers in which amidoxime groups were introduced by radiation-induced graft polymerization and subsequent chemical treatment. The braid adsorbent obtained was moored at the offing of Okinawa Island. The average U adsorption of the adsorbent became 1.5 g-U/kg-adsorbent for 30 d soaking. The mooring system for braid adsorbent has possibility which reduced the cost for the recovery of uranium from seawater. Annual product of 1200 tons of uranium needs 134 km of mooring area. In addition, there is 6000 km and more of suitable sea area for the collection of the uranium in the regions from Okinawa Islands to Tosa Bay in Japan.