Uranium adsorption with a novel shape memory polymer

In this study, poly(styrene- co- acrylonitrile- co- methacrylic acid- co- n-butylacrylate- co- diviniyl benzene) (SAMB), a new heat sensitive shape memory polymer, was synthesized by solution polymerization using styrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid, n-butyl acrylate as monomer. Divinyl benzene was used as crosslinker and benzoyl peroxide was used as initiator. Poly(styrene- co- acrylamidoxime- co- methacrylic acid- co- n-butyl acrylate- co- divinyl benzene) (SAMB-Aox) was synthesized by amidoximation reaction using hydroxylamine hydrochloride (NH2OH·HCl). The structure of SAMB and SAMB-Aox was characterized by FTIR. The surface morphology of these polymers was determined by SEM and XRD. The thermal properties of SAMB and SAMB-Aox were also determined by DSC, DMA and TMA. Shape memory properties were analyzed by bending test. The use of SAMB-Aox as a solid phase in uranium recovery was investigated and the method was optimized. When the effect of eluent contact time on recovery was examined, a significant decrease in eluent contact time was observed. It was determined that the eluent volume was also halved. This was seen as a significant improvement in the shape memory feature, the duration of the method and the enrichment factor.