A novel sorbent, poly-acryl hydroxamic acid was prepared in-house from acrylamide monomer by solution polymerization method. Surface morphology and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that the sorbent was capable of encaging uranium from aqueous solution. Sorption potentials of uranium ions were investigated using the sorbent in dilute alkaline aqueous solution by varying pH of solution, sorbent quantities, contact time, initial uranium ion concentration and temperature of solution. Results from batch sorption experiment with simulated nuclear plant effluent showed the sorbent could remove uranium(VI) ions efficiently in presence of competitive ions such as Ca(II), Mg(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), Fe(III) and nitrate. Sorption characteristics were studied using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The evaluated thermodynamic parameters indicated the present sorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. This work provided a promising and new sorbent for removing hazardous material like uranium from industrial wastewater. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.