A Polymer‐Functionalized GO Composite Prepared through Pickering Emulsion Polymerization for Selective Removal of Zr from Acidic Solutions

For the selective removal of Zr from PUREX originated acidic aqueous waste of metallic fuel, an adsorbent based on graphene oxide (GO)‐polystyrene composite functionalized with amide functional group was developed. Improved Hummers’ oxidation of graphite powder was utilized to produce GO and the amide moiety was linked to GO via chemical functionalization. The amide modified GO was converted to GO‐polystyrene composite microspheres through pickering emulsion assisted route. FT‐IR, XRD and SEM analyses were employed to characterize the composite adsorbent. The adsorption behavior of Zr was examined under varying experimental conditions. Adsorption was modeled using several adsorption and kinetic models. The Zr adsorption capacity calculated based on the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and Pseudo‐first‐order models exhibited a close agreement. Adsorption studies using simulated U‐Pu‐Zr originated PUREX aqueous waste signifies the superior Zr‐adsorption capacity (~50 mg g −1 ), even in the presence of other possible interfering elements present in SHLLW.