Carpenter Uranium

2000/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Kimika

A team of researchers at York University has synthesized a polymer capable of capturing uranium ions in the water. The polymer consists of chloroacrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and is porous. The initial polymer contains uranium trapped inside, but its cleaning with nitric acid allows uranium extraction. The polymer is then able to recover the uranium extracted from the water. Polymer pores have a suitable size to absorb uranium ions and absorb it by selecting it.

The polymer can be used several times, as trapped uranium can be extracted with nitric acid. The polymer has aroused great interest among British researchers working with nuclear fuels.