Development of Double-Flower-Shaped Nano Adsorbent... 99% Removal of Radioactive Cesium

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a cesium adsorbent with a layered flower-shaped nano structure. This adsorbent can quickly and safely filter cesium from radioactive wastewater and is also suitable for mass production. It is expected to be used for treating large amounts of radioactive wastewater or highly acidic decontamination process waste generated during nuclear power plant dismantling, such as in the case of the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. On the 28th, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced that Dr. Yang Heeman's research team succeeded in developing a 'flower-shaped titanium-ferrocyanide nano adsorbent for cesium removal (Hf-TiFC)' which is hollow inside and has a large surface area.

Development of layered flower-shaped adsorbent... excellent for removing radioactive cesium

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has newly developed a titanium-ferrocyanide adsorbent with a double-flower shape that removes radioactive cesium. This is a photo of the adsorbent observed under a scanning electron microscope.

The research team developed a layered flower-shaped titanium-ferrocyanide nano adsorbent. This adsorbent creates empty spaces inside the particles where cesium adsorption is not utilized, and the cesium adsorption sites are composed in a layered flower shape with a large surface area. As a result, the absorption speed is 10,000 times faster compared to conventional metal-ferrocyanide adsorbents with solid microparticle forms. Compared to titano silicate used in the Fukushima nuclear accident cleanup, the absorption speed was found to be 32 times faster.

The adsorption capacity is also superior to existing adsorbents. It removes up to 454 mg of cesium per gram. This is three times better than conventional metal-ferrocyanide and 1.7 times better than titano silicate. Even in wastewater containing more than 5000 ppm of potassium, which interferes with adsorption, the distribution coefficient selecting cesium was measured to be 261 times higher than that of titano silicate. This adsorbent removed more than 99.1% of cesium even in seawater. The removal rate of titano silicate is about 78.9%. Especially, the newly developed cesium adsorbent uses titanium material and removed more than 99.8% of cesium in highly acidic wastewater with pH below 1. The removal rate of titano silicate using the same titanium is about 81.3%.

Mass production possible, high potential for use in nuclear accidents

A transmission electron microscope image of a double-flower-shaped titanium-perovskite adsorbent that removes radioactive cesium.

The research team evaluated that it has high potential for use in treating large amounts of radioactive wastewater generated during nuclear facility accidents or highly acidic decontamination process waste generated during nuclear power plant dismantling. Currently, the research team is preparing to file a domestic patent and is also pursuing overseas patents in the United States, Japan, the EU, and other countries.

Dr. Yang Heeman stated, "It is easy and simple to manufacture, enabling mass production, which is an essential condition for commercialization. Compared to existing adsorbents, it has superior performance and can treat large amounts of radioactive wastewater with a small amount, significantly reducing waste treatment costs."

The research results were published on the 9th in the Chemical Engineering Journal, a world-renowned academic journal in the field of chemical engineering.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.