Antimicrobial polymer contained adsorbent: A promising candidate with remarkable anti-biofouling ability and durability for enhanced uranium extraction from seawater

Uranium extraction from seawater is a long-term process, in which biofouling caused by marine bacteria drastically decreases the properties of adsorbents. All reported antimicrobial uranium adsorbents are prepared with inorganic nanoparticles or single-molecule antibiotics, which possess poor antimicrobial, durability and adsorption performances. Herein, an antimicrobial polymer contained uranium adsorbent is prepared for the first time. The introduction of antimicrobial polymer endows the adsorbent with efficient and stable antimicrobial activity, as well as enhanced adsorption performance and good hydrophilicity attributed to plentiful amine groups. It possesses an inhibition rate up to 99.46% against marine bacteria at a high concentration (108 CFU mL−1), and a saturation uranium adsorption capacity of 684.3 mg g−1 (pH 8.0, 25 °C). Note that negligible degradation is observed in antimicrobial (>99%) and adsorption (>92%) tests after five cycles, indicating its great durability. Furthermore, as the first antimicrobial adsorbent used in marine tests, the kilogram-grade adsorbent performs excellent comprehensive property in 40-day marine tests. These results suggest that antimicrobial polymer contained adsorbent is a promising candidate for efficient uranium extraction from seawater.