Cesium adsorption from an aqueous medium for environmental remediation: A comprehensive analysis of adsorbents, sources, factors, models, challenges, and opportunities

Considering the widespread and indispensable nature of nuclear energy for future power generation, there is a concurrent increase in the discharge of radioactive Cs into water streams. Recent studies have demonstrated that adsorption is crucial in removing Cs from wastewater for environmental remediation. However, the existing literature lacks comprehensive studies on various adsorption methods, the capacities or efficiencies of adsorbents, influencing factors, isotherm and kinetic models of the Cs adsorption process. A bibliometric and comprehensive analysis was conducted using 1179 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning from 2014 to 2023. It reviews and summarizes current publication trends, active countries, adsorption methods, adsorption capacities or efficiencies of adsorbents, tested water sources, influencing factors, isotherm, and kinetic models of Cs adsorption. The selection of suitable adsorbents and operating parameters is identified as a crucial factor. Over the past decade, due to their notable capacity for Cs adsorption, considerable research has focused on novel adsorbents, such as Prussian blue, graphene oxide, hydrogel, and nanoadsorbents (NA). However, there remains a need for further development of application-oriented laboratory-scale experiments. Future research directions should encompass exploring adsorption mechanisms, developing new adsorbents or their combinations, practical applications of lab-scale studies, and recycling radioactive Cs from wastewater. Drawing upon this literature review, we present the most recent research patterns concerning adsorbents to remove Cs, outline potential avenues for future research, and delineate the obstacles hindering effective adsorption. This comprehensive bibliometric review provides valuable insights into prevalent research focal points and emerging trends, serving as a helpful resource for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand the dynamics of adsorbents for Cs removal from water.

Simulation and calibration of radiation monitoring of nuclear power plant containment sump waste liquid

Waste liquid stored in the containment sumps of nuclear power plants may contain a variety of radionuclides. Real-time monitoring of containment sump waste liquid can ensure that accidents, such as leakage of cooling water, can be avoided. This paper presents the design of a radioactive monitoring system for waste liquid in a containment sump. The detector and the lead-shield in the measurement unit are optimized through Monte Carlo simulations. Experimental verification showed that the background count rate of the measurement chamber in the system was 418.3 cps, and the detection limit of the detection system was 3.01 Bq/L. Distinct gamma-ray characteristic peaks were also observable, demonstrating the system's ability to identify radioactive nuclides in the waste.

All-in-one treatment: Capture and immobilization of 137Cs by ultra-stable inorganic solid acid materials HMMoO6·nH2O (M = Ta, Nb)

Capture and immobilization of 137Cs is urgent for radioactive contamination remediation and spent fuel treatment. Herein, an effective all-in-one treatment method to simultaneously adsorb and immobilize Cs+ without high-temperature treatment is proposed. According to the strategy of incorporating high-valency metal ions into molybdates to increase the material stability and affinity towards radionuclides, layered HMMoO6·nH2O (M = Ta (1), Nb (2)) are prepared. Both materials exhibit excellent acid resistance (even 15 mol/L HNO3). They maintain remarkable adsorption capacity for Cs+ in 1 mol/L HNO3 solutions and can selectively capture Cs+ under excessive competitive ions. Furthermore, they show successful cleanup for actual 137Cs-liquid-wastes generated during industrial production. In particular, adsorbed Cs+ can be firmly immobilized in interlayer spaces of materials due to the highly stable anionic framework. The removal mechanism is attributed to ion exchange between Cs+ and interlayer H+ by multiple characterizations. Study of the structure-function relationship shows that the occurrence of Cs+ ion exchange is closely related to plate-like layered structure. This work develops an efficient all-in-one treatment method for capturing and immobilizing radiocesium by ultra-stable inorganic solid acid materials with low energy consumption and high safety for radionuclide remediation.

Significance of MOF adsorbents in uranium remediation from water

Uranium is considered as one of the most perilous radioactive contaminants in the aqueous environment. It has shown detrimental effects on both flora and fauna and because of its toxicities on human beings, therefore its exclusion from the aqueous environment is very essential. The utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as an adsorbent for the removal of uranium from the aqueous environment could be a good approach. MOFs possess unique properties like high surface area, high porosity, adjustable pore size, etc. This makes them promising adsorbents for the removal of uranium from contaminated water. In this paper, sources of uranium in the water environment, human health disorders, and application of the different types of MOFs as well as the mechanisms of uranium removal have been discussed meticulously.

Ultra-effective modified clinoptilolite adsorbent for selective thorium removal from radioactive residue

This study investigated the efficacy of using phosphate-modified zeolite (PZ) as an adsorbent for removing thorium from aqueous solutions. The effects of various factors such as contact time, adsorbent mass, initial thorium concentration, and pH value of the solution on the removal efficiency were analyzed using the batch technique to obtain optimum adsorption condition. The results revealed that the optimal conditions for thorium adsorption were a contact time of 24 h, 0.03 g of PZ adsorbent, pH 3, and a temperature of 25 °C. Isotherm and kinetics parameters of the thorium adsorption on PZ were also determined, with equilibrium studies showing that the experimental data followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q_o) for thorium was found to be 17.3 mg/g with the Langmuir isotherm coefficient of 0.09 L/mg. Using phosphate anions to modify natural zeolite increased its adsorption capacity. Furthermore, adsorption kinetics studies demonstrated that the adsorption of thorium onto PZ adsorbent fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. The applicability of the PZ adsorbent in removing thorium from real radioactive waste was also investigated, and nearly complete thorium removal was achieved (> 99%) from the leached solution obtained from cracking and leaching processes of rare earth industrial residue under optimized conditions. This study elucidates the potential of PZ adsorbent for efficient removal of thorium from rare earth residue via adsorption, leading to a reduction in waste volume for ultimate disposition.

Development of a potassium-based soil washing solution using response surface methodology for efficient removal of cesium contamination in soil

The overuse of chelating soil washing agents for removal of heavy metal can release soil nutrients and negatively affect organisms. Therefore, developing novel washing agents that can overcome these shortcomings is necessary. In this study, we tested potassium as a main solute of novel washing agent for cesium-contaminated field soil, owing to the physicochemical similarities between potassium and cesium. Response surface methodology was combined with a four-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design to determine the superlative washing conditions of the potassium-based solution for the removal of cesium from the soil. The parameters that were considered were the following: potassium concentration, liquid-to-soil ratio, washing time, and pH. Twenty-seven sets of experiments were conducted using the Box-Behnken design, and a second-order polynomial regression equation model was obtained from the results. Analysis of variance proved the significance and goodness of fit of the derived model. Three-dimensional response surface plots displayed the results of each parameter and their reciprocal interactions. The washing conditions that achieved the highest cesium removal efficiency (81.3%) in field soil contaminated at 1.47 mg/kg were determined to be the following: a potassium concentration of 1 M, a liquid-to-soil ratio of 20, washing time of 2 h, and a pH of 2.

Efficient removal of Cs ion by electrochemical adsorption and desorption reaction using NiFe Prussian blue deposited carbon nanofiber electrode

Prussian blue (PB) analog (NiFe, CoFe, FeFe, and commercial(cPB)) decorated carbon nanofiber (CNF) electrodes were synthesized by the drop casting method in this study to investigate the interaction between PB and CNF for the electrochemical adsorption (EA) and electrochemical desorption (ED) of Cs ion (Cs⁺). The adhesion of PB on the electrode and the EA and ED of Cs⁺ were substantially higher when the CNF electrode was used, compared with the fluorine-doped tin oxide supporting electrode. The use of CNF led to the smooth occurrence of EA and ED of Cs⁺, where the reported efficiency was: NiFe > FeFe > cPB. The EA and ED of Cs⁺ on NiFe decorated CNF (C-NiFe) were strongly affected by the loading amount of NiFe. Although the strongest EA capacity was identified when 1 mg of NiFe was used, it decreased as the loading amount of NiFe increased. Thus, the EA of Cs⁺ occurs under the reduction of NiFe with some Fe(III) reduced to Fe(II) of NiFe, thus inducing more adsorption of Cs⁺. Overall, we confirmed that the C-NiFe electrode with appropriate thickness of NiFe layer is potentially an excellent adsorbent for Cs removal.

Modification of Clinoptilolite as a Robust Adsorbent for Highly-Efficient Removal of Thorium (IV) from Aqueous Solutions

The natural zeolite has been modified with sulphate and phosphate. The adsorption of thorium from the aqueous solutions by using the natural and modified zeolites has been investigated via a batch method. The adsorbent samples were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption-desorption (BET), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Modification of natural zeolite with sulphate and phosphate was found to increase its adsorption capacity of thorium but reduced its specific surface area (S_BET). The adsorption experiments were expressed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevitch (D-R) isotherm models and the results of adsorption demonstrated that the adsorption of thorium onto the natural and modified zeolites correlated better with the Langmuir isotherm model than with the Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qo) was determined using the Langmuir isotherm model at 25 °C and was found to be 17.27, 13.83, and 10.21 mg/g for phosphate-modified zeolite, sulfate-modified zeolite, and natural zeolite, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that phosphate-modified zeolite can be utilized as an effective and low-cost adsorbent material for the removal of thorium from aqueous solutions.

3D printing calcium alginate adsorbents for highly efficient recovery of U(VI) in acidic conditions

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) porous calcium alginate (3D CA) scaffold was successfully constructed using a direct-ink-writing-based 3D printing method combined with an in-situ calcium ion cross-linking procedure. The 3D CA contained orderly aligned microstructures with excellent structural robustness and an abundant number of active binding sites. The adsorption experiments verified that 3D CA had a considerably wide pH value (3-10) serving range, but also delivered a significantly higher adsorption capacity for U(VI) (117.3 mg/g at pH = 2.5) under acidic conditions, compared to other previously reported alginate-based porous adsorbents. The adsorption mechanisms originated from the synergistic effect of electrostatic interactions and ion exchange. The 3D CA eluted the adsorbed U(VI) in a strong acid solution through protonation mechanism, facilitating the continued enrichment and recycling of U(VI). In addition, the 3D CA demonstrated good microstructure stability and absorption capacity stability when it was immersed in hydrochloric acid solutions at different concentrations (3.6 × 10^-3 to 2 mol/L) for 24 h. Therefore, the 3D CA could be used for the removal and recycling of U(VI) from acidic solutions beyond its wide pH working range, due to its stronger acid stability and higher U(VI) adsorption capacity.

Selective strontium adsorption using synthesized sodium titanate in aqueous solution

Amorphous sodium titanates were synthesized using a mid-temperature sol–gel method for evaluation as selective adsorbents of strontium in the presence of cesium or metal cations (Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mn²⁺) from aqueous solution. Synthesized sodium titanate showed high adsorption capacity and selectivity for strontium. The maximum adsorption capacity of strontium by sodium titanate was 193.93 mg g⁻¹ in aqueous solution containing an initial concentration of 5 mM (438.60 mg L⁻¹) strontium and 5 mM (666.67 mg L⁻¹) cesium, and this sodium titanate removed 99.9% of the strontium and 40.67% of cesium from an aqueous solution that had an initial concentration of 1.14 mM (100 mg L⁻¹) strontium and 0.75 mM (100 mg L⁻¹) cesium. Strontium adsorption by synthesized sodium titanate followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and a generalized Langmuir isotherm model, and reached an adsorption equilibrium within 1 h with high adsorption capacity at equilibrium. Adsorbed strontium onto synthesized sodium titanate showed the behavior of forming a strontium titanate structure with a titanate frame via surface precipitation.

Amorphous sodium titanates were synthesized using a mid-temperature sol–gel method for evaluation as selective adsorbents of strontium in the presence of cesium or metal cations (Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mn²⁺) from aqueous solution.

Copper ferrocyanide chemically immobilized onto a polyvinylidene fluoride hollow-fibre membrane surface for the removal of aqueous cesium

A method of chemically bonding copper ferrocynide (CuFC) to the surface of a PVDF hollow-fibre membrane (PVDF-CuFC) was designed and the resulting PVDF-CuFC was applied to the effective removal of aqueous cesium (Cs). In order to chemically immobilize CuFC on the surface of the PVDF hollow-fibre membrane, carboxyl groups were introduced onto the membrane surface (PVDF-COOH) to peptide bond with amine groups from CuFC. The introduction of the carboxyl group onto the surface of the PVDF hollow-fibre membrane was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), while the immobilization of CuFC was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersed spectroscopy, FT-IR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The PVDF-CuFC showed higher Cs adsorption kinetics and adsorption capacity than PVDF-COOH. Moreover, as the initial pH increased, the amount of Cs adsorption by PVDF-CuFC also increased. However, the amount of Cs adsorption at pH 10 was slightly less. The applicability of PVDF-CuFC as a filter type adsorbent for the treatment of a Cs-contaminated water source is demonstrated by continuous filtration experiments.

Functionalization of Tailored Porous Carbon Monolith for Decontamination of Radioactive Substances

As the control over radioactive species becomes critical for the contemporary human life, the development of functional materials for decontamination of radioactive substances has also become important. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon monolith functionalized with Prussian blue particles was prepared through removal of colloidal silica particles from exfoliated graphene/silica composite precursors. The colloidal silica particles with a narrow size distribution were used to act a role of hard template and provide a sufficient surface area that could accommodate potentially hazardous radioactive substances by adsorption. The unique surface and pore structure of the functionalized porous carbon monolith was examined using electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). The effective incorporation of PB nanoparticles was confirmed using diverse instrumentations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A nitrogen adsorption/desorption study showed that surface area and pore volume increased significantly compared with the starting precursor. Adsorption tests were performed with 133Cs ions to examine adsorption isotherms using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. In addition, adsorption kinetics were also investigated and parameters were calculated. The functionalized porous carbon monolith showed a relatively higher adsorption capacity than that of pristine porous carbon monolith and the bulk PB to most radioactive ions such as 133Cs, 85Rb, 138Ba, 88Sr, 140Ce, and 205Tl. This material can be used for decontamination in expanded application fields.

Non-thermal plasma irradiated polyaluminum chloride for the heterogeneous adsorption enhancement of Cs+ and Sr2+ in a binary system

The natural ecosystem will continually deteriorate for decades by the leakage of Cs and Sr isotopes. The exploration of the new materials or techniques for the efficient treatment of radioactive wastewater is critically important. In this study, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) configuration was constructed to operate the non-thermal plasma (NTP). The NTP was incorporated into the synthesis of polyaluminum chloride (PAC) in two different procedures to intensify the synthesis of PAC (NTP-PAC) and enhance the further removal of Cs and Sr from wastewater. The employment of NTP in two procedures both had significantly changed the physicochemical characteristics of PAC materials, which facilitated the further adsorption application of NTP-PAC on the treatment of Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺. Different molecular, morphological, and adsorption characteristics were confirmed to the NTP-PAC materials. The heterogeneous adsorption of the NTP-PAC can be appropriately fitted by both the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Elovich model. Both physisorption and chemisorption reaction mechanisms were ensured for the heterogeneous adsorption of the NTP-PAC material towards Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺, which guaranteed the excellent adsorption performance of NTP-PAC materials compared to PAC. The electron collisions caused by NTP with alum pulp created highly reactive growth precursors and intensified the nucleation and hydrolysis polymerization of PAC. The employment of NTP explicitly broadens the reaction pathways between PAC and cationic contaminants in the aqueous environment, which expands the application area of PAC materials in environmental sustainability.

Highly selective cesium(I) capture under acidic conditions by a layered sulfide

Radiocesium remediation is desirable for ecological protection, human health and sustainable development of nuclear energy. Effective capture of Cs+ from acidic solutions is still challenging, mainly due to the low stability of the adsorbing materials and the competitive adsorption of protons. Herein, the rapid and highly selective capture of Cs+ from strongly acidic solutions is achieved by a robust K+-directed layered metal sulfide KInSnS4 (InSnS-1) that exhibits excellent acid and radiation resistance. InSnS-1 possesses high adsorption capacity for Cs+ and can serve as the stationary phase in ion exchange columns to effectively remove Cs+ from neutral and acidic solutions. The adsorption of Cs+ and H3O+ is monitored by single-crystal structure analysis, and thus the underlying mechanism of selective Cs+ capture from acidic solutions is elucidated at the molecular level.

Rapid Cs+ Capture via Multiple Supramolecular Interactions in Anionic Metal-Organic Framework Isomers

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide an ideal platform for ion exchange due to their high porosity and structural designability; however, developing MOFs that have the essential characteristics for ion exchange remains a challenge. These crucial features include fast kinetics, selectivity, and stability. We present two anionic isomers, DGIST-2 (2D) and DGIST-3 (3D), comprising distinctly arranged 5-(1,8-naphthalimido)isophthalate ligands and In³⁺ cations. Interestingly, in protic solvents, DGIST-2 transforms into a hydrolytically stable crystalline phase, DGIST-2'. DGIST-2' and DGIST-3 exhibit rapid Cs⁺ adsorption kinetics, as well as high Cs⁺ affinity in the presence of competing cations. The mechanism for rapid and selective sorption is explored based on the results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Cs⁺-incorporated DGIST-3. In Cs⁺-containing solutions, the loosely incorporated dimethylammonium countercation of the anionic framework is replaced by Cs⁺, which is held in the hydrophobic cavity by supramolecular ion-ion and cation-π interactions.

Gamma radiation-induced polymerization of polyacrylic acid-dolomite composite and applications for removal of cesium, cobalt, and zirconium from aqueous solutions

Gamma-irradiation initiated polymerization was utilized to prepare polyacrylic acid dolomite P(AA/D) nanocomposites. Different analytical techniques have been applied to investigate the structure of the new materials. XRD and TEM revealed the crystalline phase with an average particle size ranging from 2 to 4 nm. The ability of the prepared materials to remove cesium, cobalt, and zirconium ions from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The adsorption capacity of studied nanocomposites has an affinity sequence; Zr⁴⁺>Co²⁺≫Cs⁺ with values 77.8, 72.4, and 34.9 mg/g respectively. The effect of the interfering species reveals that the rate of adsorption of cesium, cobalt, and zirconium ions decreases with increasing concentrations of the interfering species. The investigation proved that the prepared nanocomposite is suitable material for the removal of the studied metals from aqueous solutions and could be considered as potential material for purification of effluent polluted with these metal ions.

Double-Walled Metal-Organic Framework with Regulable Pore Environments for Efficient Removal of Radioactive Cesium Cations

An anion double-walled metal-organic framework [Co₂Li₄(BTC)₃(DMF)(H₂O)·(CH₃)₂N]_n (1) based on heterobimetallic Li⁺ and Co²⁺ ions was successfully constructed. Utilizing selective destruction and formation of Co-O/Co-N bonds in the metal chains, [Co₂Li₄(BTC)₃(py)(H₂O)·(CH₃)₂N]_n (2) and [Co₂Li₄(BTC)₃(pi)(H₂O)·(CH₃)₂N]_n (3) with the same skeleton but distinct pore structures can be surprisingly obtained. Additionally, compounds 2 and 3 can be transformed into [Co₂Li₄(BTC)₃(H₂O)₂·(CH₃)₂N]_n (4) by soaking them in an ethanol solution. This kind of single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation successfully regulates the pore structure of MOFs and enriches the diversity of the pore wall on the premise of retaining the original framework. Most impressively, compound 1 shows high adsorption capacity for Cs⁺ cations and is a good candidate to selectively accommodate Cs⁺ among the common alkali metal ions, which is future identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) test. Meanwhile, compound 1 can selectively adsorb methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) molecules over Rhodamine B (RMB).

Sulfur-encapsulated zeolite micromotors for the selective removal of cesium from high-salt water with accelerated cleanup times

Bubble-propelled sulfur-encapsulated NaX zeolite (S-NaX) micromotors were developed for the selective removal of cesium from high-salt conditions with accelerated cleanup times. NaX was first modified with sulfur to provide additional Lewis acid-base interactions with Cs⁺ for enhanced Cs⁺ selectivity, and then Pt was half-deposited on S-NaX for bubble propulsion via the catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂. The average velocity of the resulting S-NaX/Pt micromotors in 5 wt% H₂O₂ is 39.7 ± 17.1 μm/s, which is higher than that of a previously reported Cs adsorbent micromotor (35.4 μm/s). The Cs⁺ ion-exchange kinetics of the S-NaX micromotor is 1.32 times higher than that of the NaX micromotor in a 5 wt% H₂O₂ solution where the molar ratio of Na⁺ to Cs⁺ is 200, even though the sulfur in the S-NaX micromotor causes an adverse effect on the propulsion speed due to the sulfur poisoning effect. Moreover, the S-NaX micromotor in simulated groundwater also exhibited excellent Cs⁺ removal performance with distribution coefficient (K_d) values at least 3.2 times higher than those of the nonpropelled S-NaX and NaX micromotor, demonstrating the great potential for the treatment of radioactive Cs⁺-contaminated water.

Development of the Functionalized Nanocomposite Materials for Adsorption/Decontamination of Radioactive Pollutants

A polymer-based nanofiber membrane with a high specific surface area, high porosity and abundant adsorption sites is demonstrated for selective trapping of radionuclides. The Prussian blue (PB)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofiber composites were successfully prepared through a one-step, single-nozzle electrospinning method. Various analytical techniques were used to examine the physical and chemical properties of PB nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers. It is possible to enhance binding affinity and selectivity to radionuclide targets by incorporation of the PB nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. It is noteworthy that the maximum 133Cs adsorption capacity of hte PB/PMMA nanofiber filter is approximately 28 times higher than that of bulk PB, and the removal efficiency is measured to be 95% at 1 ppm of 133Cs. In addition, adsorption kinetics shows that the PB/PMMA nanofiber has a homogenous surface for adsorption, and all sites on the surface have equal adsorption energies in terms of ion-exchange between cyano groups of the introduced PB nanoparticles and radionuclides.

Relationship between zeolite structure and capture capability for radioactive cesium and strontium

Zeolites are widely used for capturing radioactive Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺, but the important structural factors determining their performance have not been clearly understood. To investigate the structure-property relationship, we prepared thirteen zeolites with various structures and Si/Al ratios. Ion-exchange experiments revealed that Cs⁺ exhibited an enhanced affinity to zeolites with high Si/Al ratios, which could be explained by the dielectric theory. Notably, zeolites containing 8-membered ring (8MR) showed extra-high Cs⁺ selectivity. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction proved that Cs⁺ with an ionic diameter of 3.6 Å was selectively coordinated within 8MR having a cavity diameter of 3.6-4.1 Å. Such unique size-selective Cs⁺ coordination is analogous to ion complexation by macrocyclic organic ligands (e.g., crown ethers). Divalent Sr²⁺ showed decreasing affinity to zeolites as the Si/Al ratio increased, because of the increasing average Al-Al distance distribution. Sr²⁺ exchange exhibited an insignificant dependence on zeolite structures due to its strong hydration, which inhibited close interaction with zeolite frameworks. In terms of kinetics, Sr²⁺ exchange was significantly slower than Cs⁺ exchange because of the bulkiness of hydrated Sr²⁺ ions. Therefore, the micropore channels with large apertures (e.g., 12-membered ring) were beneficial for achieving fast ion-exchange kinetics, especially in the case of Sr²⁺.

Kinetic Studies of Cs+ and Sr2+ Ion Exchange Using Clinoptilolite in Static Columns and an Agitated Tubular Reactor (ATR)

Natural clinoptilolite was studied to assess its performance in removing caesium and strontium ions, using both static columns and an agitated tube reactor (ATR) for process intensification. Kinetic breakthrough curves were fitted using the Thomas and Modified Dose Response (MDR) models. In the static columns, the clinoptilolite adsorption capacity (qe) for 200 ppm ion concentrations was found to be ~171 and 16 mg/g for caesium and strontium, respectively, highlighting the poor material ability to exchange strontium. Reducing the concentration of strontium to 100 ppm, however, led to a higher strontium qe of ~48 mg/g (close to the maximum adsorption capacity). Conversely, halving the column residence time to 15 min decreased the qe for 100 ppm strontium solutions to 13–14 mg/g. All the kinetic breakthrough data correlated well with the maximum adsorption capacities found in previous batch studies, where, in particular, the influence of concentration on the slow uptake kinetics of strontium was evidenced. For the ATR studies, two column lengths were investigated (of 25 and 34 cm) with the clinoptilolite embedded directly into the agitator bar. The 34 cm-length system significantly outperformed the static vertical columns, where the adsorption capacity and breakthrough time were enhanced by ~30%, which was assumed to be due to the heightened kinetics from shear mixing. Critically, the increase in performance was achieved with a relative process flow rate over twice that of the static columns.

Robust and Flexible Thioantimonate Materials for Cs+ Remediation with Distinctive Structural Transformation: A Clear Insight into the Ion-Exchange Mechanism

It is imperative yet challenging to efficiently sequester the ¹³⁷Cs⁺ ion from aqueous solutions because of its highly environmental mobility and extremely high radiotoxicity. The systematical clarification for underlying mechanism of Cs⁺ removal and elution at the molecular level is rare. Here, efficient Cs⁺ capture is achieved by a thioantimonate [MeNH₃]₃Sb₉S₁₅ (FJSM-SbS) with high capacity, fast kinetics, wide pH durability, excellent β and γ radiation resistances, and facile elution. The Cs⁺ removal is not significantly impacted by coexisting Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Sr²⁺ ions which is beneficial to the remediation of Cs⁺-contaminated real waters. Importantly, the mechanism is directly illuminated by revealing an unprecedented single-crystal to single-crystal structural transformation upon Cs⁺ uptake and elution processes. The superior Cs⁺ removal results from an unusual synergy from strong affinity of soft S^2- with Cs⁺, easily exchangeable [MeNH₃]⁺ cations, and the flexible and robust framework of FJSM-SbS with open windows as trappers.

The effect of cationic surfactants on improving natural clinoptilolite for the flotation of cesium

Flotation using cationic surfactants has been investigated as a rapid separation technique to dewater clinoptilolite ion exchange resins, for the decontamination of radioactive cesium ions (Cs⁺) from nuclear waste effluent. Initial kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies of cesium, suggested the large surface area to volume ratio of the fine zeolite contributed to fast adsorption kinetics and high capacities (q_c = 158.3 mg/g). Adsorption of ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (EHDa-Br) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) surfactant collectors onto both clean and 5 ppm Cs⁺ contaminated clinoptilolite was then measured, where distribution coefficients (K_d) as high as 10,000 mL/g were evident with moderate concentrations CPC. Measurements of particle sizes confirmed that adsorption of surfactant monolayers did not lead to significant aggregation of the clinoptilolite, while < 8% of the 5 ppm contaminated cesium was remobilised. Importantly for flotation, both the recovery efficiency and dewatering ratios were measured across various surfactant concentrations. Optimum conditions were found with 0.5 mM of CPC and addition of 30 μL of MIBC frother, giving a recovery of ∼90% and a water reduction ratio > 4, highlighting the great viability of flotation to separate and concentrate the contaminated powder in the froth phase.

Combined use of tannic acid-type organic composite adsorbents and ozone for simultaneous removal of various kinds of radionuclides in river water

Tannic acid-type organic composite adsorbents (PA316TAS, AR-01TAS, PYRTAS, WA10TAS, WA20TAS, and WA30TAS), combined with hydrolyzed and sulfonated tannic acid (TAS) and porous-type strongly basic anion-exchange resin (PA316), benzimidazole-type anion-exchange resin embedded in high-porous silica beads (AR-01), pyridine-type anion-exchange resin (PYR), acrylic-type weakly basic anion-exchange resin (WA10), or styrene-type weakly basic anion-exchange resins (WA20 and WA30) for simultaneous removal of various kinds of radionuclides in river water were successfully synthesized. The adsorption behavior of twelve kinds of simulated radionuclides (Mn, Co, Sr, Y, Ru, Rh, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, Eu, and I (I^- and IO₃^-)) on these composite adsorbents has been studied in real river water at room temperature. PA316TAS adsorbents showed much higher distribution coefficients (K_d) for all metal ions. TAS structure has more selective adsorption ability for Mn, Co, Sr, Y, Cs, Ba, Eu, and IO₃^-. On the other hand, Y, Ru, Rh, Sb, Te, Eu, I (I^- and IO₃^-) were adsorbed on both PA316 and TAS structures. To evaluate the validity of these mechanistic expectations, the respective chemical adsorption behaviors of Mn, Co, Sr, etc. and PA316TAS adsorbent were examined in river water ranging in temperature from 278 to 333 K. As was expected, one adsorption mechanism for Mn, Co, Sr, Cs, and Ba systems and two types of adsorption mechanisms for Y, Ru, Rh, Sb, Te, Eu, I (I^- and IO₃^-) systems were observed. On the other hand, the precipitation of Mn, Co, Y, Ru, Rh, Te, and Eu was formed by ozonation for river water, that is, ozone can transform Mn, Co, Y, Ru, Rh, Te, and Eu ions into the insoluble precipitates. Hence, one straight line for Sr, Cs, Ba systems and two types of straight lines for Sb, I (I^- and IO₃^-) systems were obtained in river water treated with ozone. The chromatography experiments of Cs, Sr, I (I^- and IO₃^-) were carried out to calculate their maximum adsorption capacities. The obtained maximum adsorption capacities of Cs, Sr, and I^- mixed with IO₃^- were 1.7 × 10^-4 (Cs), 1.8 × 10^-3 (Cs/O₃), 7.8 × 10^-5 (Sr), 5.6 × 10^-4 (Sr/O₃), 5.4 × 10^-2 (I^- and IO₃^-), 3.1 × 10^-2 (I^- and IO₃^-/O₃) mol/g - PA316TAS. It was discovered that the maximum adsorption capacities of I^- and IO₃^- for the composite adsorbent is unprecedented high and the capacity become much greater than an order of magnitude, compared with those of previous reports. This phenomenon suggests the formation of electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes or pseudo EDA complex. Based on these results, it was concluded that the combined use of tannic acid-type organic composite adsorbents and ozone made it possible to remove simultaneously and effectively various kinds of radionuclides in river water in the wide pH and temperature ranges.

Facile Synthesis of Porous Polymer Using Biomass Polyphenol Source for Highly Efficient Separation of Cs+ from Aqueous Solution

In this work, a series of polyphenol porous polymers were derived from biomass polyphenols via a facile azo-coupling method. The structure and morphologies of the polymer were characterized by BET, TEM, SEM, XRD, TGA and FT-IR techniques. Batch experiments demonstrated their potentialities for adsorptive separation of Cs⁺ from aqueous solution. Among them, porous polymers prepared with gallic acid as starting material (GAPP) could adsorb Cs⁺ at wide pH value range effectively, and the optimal adsorption capacity was up to 163.6 mg/g, placing it at top material for Cs⁺ adsorption. GAPP exhibited significantly high adsorption performance toward Cs⁺ compared to Na⁺ and K⁺, making it possible in selective removal of Cs⁺ from ground water in presence of co-existing competitive ions. Moreover, the Cs-laden GAPP could be facilely eluted and reused in consecutive adsorption-desorption processes. As a result, we hope this work could provide ideas about the potential utilization of biomass polyphenol in environmental remediation.

Prussian blue immobilized cellulosic filter for the removal of aqueous cesium

Cesium is a typical radioisotope that has a long half-life and is dangerous and can be emitted in the event of a nuclear accident. Prussian blue (PB), which is known to effectively adsorb cesium, is difficult to separate when it is dissolved in an aqueous system. In this study, PB was immobilized on a filter type support media, cellulose filter (CF), for use as a selective material for cesium adsorption. The commercially available CF was functionalized by the addition of acrylic acid (AA) (i.e., CF-AA) to enhance the PB immobilization, which increased both PB loading and binding strength. The AA functionalization changed the major functional groups from hydroxyl to carboxylic, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. As a result of the surface modification, the PB immobilization increased 1.5 times and reduced detachment of PB during washing. The prepared adsorbent, CF-AA-PB, was tested for its cesium adsorption capability. Cesium adsorption equilibrated within 3 h, and the maximum cesium adsorption capacity was 16.66 mg/g. The observed decrease in the solution pH during cesium adsorption inhibited the overall cesium uptake; however, this was minimized by buffering. The prepared CF-AA-PB was used as a filter material and its potential use as a countermeasure for removing radioactive cesium from a contaminated water stream was demonstrated.

Facile synthesis of copper ferrocyanide-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads for the enhanced removal of cesium from water

A simple one-step approach for fabricating copper ferrocyanide-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads (CuFC-MHBs) was designed, and the beads were applied to the effective removal of cesium (Cs) and then magnetically separated from water. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated CuFC (PVA-CuFC) was first synthesized using PVA as a stabilizer and subsequently embedded in magnetic hydrogel beads made of a cross-linked network between the PVA and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles that was prepared through the simple dropwise addition of a mixed solution of PVA-CuFC, PVA and iron salt into an ammonium hydroxide solution. The synthesis and chemical immobilization of the PVA-CuFC in the magnetic beads were simple, facile and achieved in one pot, and the process is scalable and convenient for the large-scale treatment of Cs-contaminated water. The resulting CuFC-MHBs showed effective Cs removal performance with a high K_d value of 66,780 mL/g and excellent structural stability without the release of CuFC for at least 1 month and could be effectively separated from water by an external magnet. Moreover, the CuFC-MHBs selectively adsorbed Cs with high K_d values in the presence of various competing ions, such as in simulated groundwater (24,500 mL/g) and seawater (8290 mL/g), and maintained their Cs absorption ability in a wide pH range from 3 to 11. The convenient fabrication method and effective removal of Cs from various aqueous media demonstrated that the CuFC-MHBs have great potential for practical application in the decontamination of Cs-contaminated water sources caused by nuclear accidents and radioactive liquid waste in various nuclear industry fields.

Towards the Extraction of Radioactive Cesium-137 from Water via Graphene/CNT and Nanostructured Prussian Blue Hybrid Nanocomposites: A Review

Cesium is a radioactive fission product generated in nuclear power plants and is disposed of as liquid waste. The recent catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan has increased the 137Cs and 134Cs concentrations in air, soil and water to lethal levels. 137Cs has a half-life of 30.4 years, while the half-life of 134Cs is around two years, therefore the formers' detrimental effects linger for a longer period. In addition, cesium is easily transported through water bodies making water contamination an urgent issue to address. Presently, efficient water remediation methods towards the extraction of 137Cs are being studied. Prussian blue (PB) and its analogs have shown very high efficiencies in the capture of 137Cs+ ions. In addition, combining them with magnetic nanoparticles such as Fe3O4 allows their recovery via magnetic extraction once exhausted. Graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) are the new generation carbon allotropes that possess high specific surface areas. Moreover, the possibility to functionalize them with organic or inorganic materials opens new avenues in water treatment. The combination of PB-CNT/Graphene has shown enhanced 137Cs+ extraction and their possible applications as membranes can be envisaged. This review will survey these nanocomposites, their efficiency in 137Cs+ extraction, their possible toxicity, and prospects in large-scale water remediation and succinctly survey other new developments in 137Cs+ extraction.

Fabrication of a novel polyvinylidene fluoride membrane via binding SiO2 nanoparticles and a copper ferrocyanide layer onto a membrane surface for selective removal of cesium

A novel polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was fabricated through chemical binding SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) and copper ferrocyanide (CuFC) layers onto a membrane surface simultaneously to improve the removal efficiency of Cs. The results indicated that the SiO₂ NPs were strongly deposited onto the membrane surface, and the CuFC layer was firmly attached on the surface of SiO₂ NPs and the membrane. CuFC/SiO₂/PVDF membrane remained stable after the acidic solution and sonication stress treatments. CuFC/SiO₂/PVDF membrane showed good permeate flux and high selectivity on removal of Cs, and adsorbing capacity reached 1440.4 mg m^-2 for Cs. The membrane remained high rejections of Cs in a wide pH, and could be regenerated well by H₂O₂ and N₂H₄. Selective adsorption and electrostatic interaction govern the rejection of Cs. The coexisting cations decreased the rejection of Cs mainly in accordance to the order of cations' hydration radii as K⁺ > Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺. In addition, the rejection of Cs could still reach 99.4% in 8 h in the filtration of humic acid solution and natural surface water. The membrane could removal of Cs from water effectively by directly rapid filtration, suggesting it can be applied as promising technology for radioactive wastewater treatment.

Functionalized Porous Silica-Based Nano/Micro Particles for Environmental Remediation of Hazard Ions

The adsorption and separation of hazard metal ions, radioactive nuclides, or minor actinides from wastewater and high-level radioactive waste liquids using functional silica-based nano/micro-particles modified with various inorganic materials or organic groups, has attracted significant attention since the discovery of ordered mesoporous silica-based substrates. Focusing on inorganic and organic modified materials, the synthesis methods and sorption performances for specific ions in aqueous solutions are summarized in this review. Three modification methods for silica-based particles, the direct synthesis method, wetness impregnation method, and layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition, are usually adopted to load inorganic material onto silica-based particles, while the wetness impregnation method is currently used for the preparation of functional silica-based particles modified with organic groups. Generally, the specific synthesis method is employed based on the properties of the loading materials and the silicon-based substrate. Adsorption of specific toxic ions onto modified silica-based particles depends on the properties of the loaded material. The silicon matrix only changes the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the material, such as the abrasive resistance, dispersibility, and radiation resistance. In this paper, inorganic loads, such as metal phosphates, molybdophosphate, titanate-based materials, and hydrotalcite, in addition to organic loads, such as 1,3-[(2,4-diethylheptylethoxy)oxy]-2,4-crown-6-Calix{4}arene (Calix {4}) arene-R14 and functional 2,6-bis-(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridines(BTP) are reviewed. More specifically, we emphasize on the synthesis methods of such materials, their structures in relation to their capacities, their selectivities for trapping specific ions from either single or multi-component aqueous solutions, and the possible retention mechanisms. Potential candidates for remediation uses are selected based on their sorption capacities and distribution coefficients for target cations and the pH window for an optimum cation capture.

Hybrid porous magnetic bentonite-chitosan beads for selective removal of radioactive cesium in water

Easy-to-obtain magnetic bentonite-chitosan hybrid beads (Bn-CTS) were prepared by immobilizing bentonite within a porous structure of chitosan beads to achieve a hybrid adsorption effect for the removal of cesium ion (Cs⁺) from water. The hybrid adsorbent, which had a porous structure and abundant binding sites contributed by both chitosan and bentonite, ensured superb adsorption characteristics. The paramagnetic character of the beads enabled their facile separation for recycling. The chitosan/bentonite ratio, pH and contact time were optimized to achieve the optimal Cs⁺ efficiency, and the adsorption kinetics and isotherms were thoroughly discussed. The adsorption kinetics obeyed the pseudo-second-order model, and the best fitted equation for equilibrium data was the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the bentonite-chitosan beads was 57.1 mg g^-1. The adsorbent had excellent selectivity towards Cs⁺ adsorption in the presence of abundant cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺). The adsorbent was able to be recycled by treating the beads with 0.1 mol L^-1 of MgCl₂ to quantitatively desorb Cs⁺ from the beads. Overall, the magnetic bentonite-chitosan beads can be used as a highly efficient adsorbent for radioactive waste disposal and management.

Porous composite CMC–KCuFC–PEG spheres for efficient cesium removal from wastewater

Highly stable porous composite CMC–KCuFC–PEG was used for Cs⁺ recovery from wastewater, and showed excellent adsorption performance.

Eco-friendly one-pot synthesis of Prussian blue-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads for the removal of cesium from water

A simple one-step approach to fabricating Prussian blue-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads (PB-MHBs) was fabricated for the effective magnetic removal of radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) from water. Through the simple dropwise addition of a mixed aqueous solution of iron salts, commercial PB and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to an ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) solution, the formation of hydrogel beads and the encapsulation of PB in beads were achieved in one pot through the gelation of PVA with in situ-formed iron oxide nanoparticles as the cross-linker. The obtained PB-MHBs, with 43.77 weight % of PB, were stable without releasing PB for up to 2 weeks and could be effectively separated from aqueous solutions by an external magnetic field, which is convenient for the large-scale treatment of Cs-contaminated water. Detailed Cs adsorption studies revealed that the adsorption isotherms and kinetics could be effectively described by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively. Most importantly, the PB-MHBs exhibited excellent selectivity for ¹³⁷Cs in ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated simulated groundwater (55 Bq/g) with a high removal efficiency (>99.5%), and the effective removal of ¹³⁷Cs from real seawater by these PB-MHBs demonstrated the excellent potential of this material for practical application in the decontamination of ¹³⁷Cs-contaminated seawater.