A Magnetic Carbon Sorbent for Radioactive Material from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

• DOI: 10.1038/srep06053
• Publication Date: 2014-08-13T09:05:36Z
• Authors: Daizo Yamaguchi; Kazumi Furukawa; Masaya Takasuga; Koki Watanabe
• Keywords: Surface Properties; Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; Magnetic Phenomena; Metal Nanoparticles; 02 engineering and technology; Environment; Ferric Compounds; 7. Clean energy; Article; Magnetics; Japan; Cesium Radioisotopes; Radiation Monitoring; 13. Climate action; Radioactive Waste; Fukushima Nuclear Accident; Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; Adsorption; 0210 nano-technology; Decontamination

Here we present the first report of a carbon-γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle composite of mesoporous carbon, bearing COOH- and phenolic OH- functional groups on its surface, a remarkable and magnetically separable adsorbent, for the radioactive material emitted by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Contaminated water and soil at a level of 1,739 Bq kg(-1) ((134)Cs and (137)Cs at 509 Bq kg(-1) and 1,230 Bq kg(-1), respectively) and 114,000 Bq kg(-1) ((134)Cs and (137)Cs at 38,700 Bq kg(-1) and 75,300 Bq kg(-1), respectively) were decontaminated by 99% and 90% respectively with just one treatment carried out in Nihonmatsu city in Fukushima. Since this material is remarkably high performance, magnetically separable, and a readily applicable technology, it would reduce the environmental impact of the Fukushima accident if it were used.