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Magnetic composites as an effective technology for removal of radioactive cesium

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Abstract

Radioactive cesium (137Cs) has seriously become a human concern owing to exposure from a nuclear accident release at a nuclear plant. Many efforts have focused at the removal of radioactive cesium and remediation of a contaminated environment. To meet these demands, an effective sorbent based on magnetic composites functionalized with synthetic clay minerals was demonstrated. This sorbent shows a high removal efficiency of contaminated water containing suspended sorbents at a level of 0.5 mg ml−1 [137Cs of 84.68 Becquerel (Bq) gram (g)−1], decontaminated to 0.47 Bq g−1 (99.44 % removal efficiency) with just one treatment. The radioactive cesium is dramatically adsorbed into synthetic clay minerals. Subsequently, a rapid and easy sorbent separation from the radioactive cesium solution occurs after treatment using a magnetic field. Thus, a magnetic sodium-phlogopite sorbent can offer high potential for in situ remediation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2012M2A8A5025996). And, this work was in part supported by the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), Korea.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Division of Biotechnology, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1266 Shinjeong-dong, Jeongeup-si, Jeolabuk-do, 580-185, Republic of Korea

      S.-C. Jang, G. Y. Kim & C. Roh

    2. Decontamination and Decommissioning Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 989-111 Daedukdaero, Yuseong, Daejeon, 305-353, Republic of Korea

      S.-C. Jang, S. B. Hong, H.-M. Yang, K.-W. Lee, J.-K. Moon & B.-K. Seo

    3. Department of Biological Engineering, Biohybrid Systems Research Center (BSRC), Inha University, Inchon, 402-751, Republic of Korea

      S.-C. Jang & Y. S. Huh

    4. Department of Environmental Engineering, Daejeon University, Daejeon, 300-716, Republic of Korea

      Y. Cho

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    1. S.-C. Jang
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    2. G. Y. Kim
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    3. S. B. Hong
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    9. Y. S. Huh
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    10. C. Roh
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    Correspondence to C. Roh.

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    The authors declare no competing financial interest.

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    C. Roh and Y. S. Huh have contributed equally to this work as co-corresponding authors.

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    Jang, SC., Kim, G.Y., Hong, S.B. et al. Magnetic composites as an effective technology for removal of radioactive cesium. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 12, 3695–3700 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-015-0853-7

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-015-0853-7

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