High-Performance Polyamidoxime Porous Membrane Prepared by the In Situ Modification/Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Separation Strategy for Uranium Extraction from Seawater

The abundance of uranium (U(VI)) reserves in seawater makes it crucial to develop economically efficient methods for uranium extraction from seawater. In this work, an enhanced polyamidoxime porous membrane (PAOM) was fabricated by pre-in situ amidoxime modification combined with nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). The strategy of in situ modification of the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution served to enhance the homogeneity of the reaction and avoid the destruction of the membrane matrix and pore structure. Compared with the control sample (AOPM), PAOM possessed better mechanical strength and hydrophilicity. The introduction of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) formed a porous structure in PAOM, improving spatial accessibility and facilitating the diffusion transport and capture of UO