Polyacrylic　acid　(PAA)　hydrogel　prepared　by　radical　polymerization　in　a　clean　and　extremely　simple　way　was　used　to　adsorb　U(vi)　ions　from　aqueous　solutions.　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FTIR)　characterization　demonstrated　that　the　PAA　hydrogels　were　successfully　synthesized,　FTIR　and　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM)　characterization　illustrated　the　adsorption　mechanism,　and　the　adherence　of　the　U(vi)　ions　on　PAA　was　confirmed　by　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　energy　dispersive　X-ray　(EDX).　Batch　experiments　with　various　pH,　initial　concentration　and　contact　time　were　conducted　to　evaluate　the　adsorption　performance.　The　adsorption　kinetics　of　the　PAA　hydrogels　followed　a　pseudo-second-order　model　and　exhibited　a　3-stage　intraparticle　diffusion　mode.　Equilibrium　data　were　best　described　by　a　Langmuir　model,　and　the　estimated　maximum　adsorption　capacity　for　the　adsorbent　was　445.11　mg　g-1.　Moreover,　the　U(vi)　loaded　adsorbent　could　be　regenerated　using　0.1　M　HNO3　acid　solution,　and　the　regenerated　adsorbent　after　five　cycles　could　retain　90.91%　of　the　adsorption　capacity　of　the　fresh　adsorbent.　The　results　suggested　that　the　PAA　hydrogels　could　be　considered　to　be　very　effective　and　promising　materials　for　U(vi)　removal　from　waste　water.　©　2017　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.