Japan's Fukushima Radioactive Contaminated Water Concerns... South Korea Develops Contaminated Water Analysis Technology

Strontium-90 in Seawater Analyzed 10 Times Faster
"Expected to Enhance Routine Monitoring of Marine Environmental Radiation"

The Nuclear Environment Division of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed a rapid analysis method for strontium-90 in seawater. On the left is Lim Jong-myeong, head of the Nuclear Environment Division, and on the right is Dr. Kim Hyun-chul. (Photo by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Amid growing concerns over Japan's plan to discharge radioactive contaminated water from Fukushima, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed technology that can quickly and accurately monitor contamination levels.

On the 27th, KAERI announced that it has created a technology that can analyze radioactive strontium-90 in seawater 10 times faster using an automatic radionuclide separation device.

Strontium-90 is a representative radioactive substance generated in nuclear reactors, and it can be used to indirectly confirm the movement of radioactive contaminated water.

KAERI stated that with this development, it is now possible to quickly identify the pathways through which radioactive contaminated water spreads in the ocean. Even if contamination cannot be prevented in advance, accurate monitoring can minimize damage.

By utilizing a self-developed automatic radionuclide separation device, radioactive strontium can be analyzed 10 times faster. (Photo by Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)

The "rapid analysis method" developed by KAERI's Nuclear Environment Division can automatically separate yttrium-90 within two days to indirectly measure the amount of strontium-90. Yttrium-90 is an element used in cancer radiation therapy.

The rapid analysis method can detect concentrations as low as 0.4 mBq/kg (millibecquerels per kilogram). This means it can confirm radioactivity as low as 0.4 mBq in a 1 kg sample. This level of precision is comparable to the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of 0.2 mBq/kg using the precipitation method.

According to KAERI, radioactive contaminated water usually flows into the sea and moves along ocean currents several days to months after an accident occurs. Therefore, reducing the time required for sample collection and analysis is crucial.

Dr. Kim Hyuncheol of KAERI, who led the research, previously developed the automatic radionuclide separation device for analyzing radioactive waste and transferred the technology to BNB, a specialized analysis equipment company, in 2017. He has now further advanced this technology for maritime contamination monitoring.

Dr. Kim stated, "'The rapid analysis method' is fast and accurate, and it has versatility to measure different radionuclides depending on the resin used to adsorb the nuclides. We plan to standardize the analysis procedure so it can be easily used in the field."

Park Wonseok, President of KAERI, said, "Environmental radiation monitoring technology is essential for preserving our environment and ensuring that the public can live their daily lives with peace of mind. We will do our best to advance the technology to a level that enables real-time monitoring, and we plan to actively support related agencies if they request cooperation."

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