Decontamination of Extra-Diluted Radioactive Cesium in Fukushima Water Using Zeolite–Polymer Composite Fibers

Abstract

Zeolite and poly(ethersulfone) (PES) were composited by wet spinning technique to be Cesium (Cs) fiber adsorbent having porous morphology. The coagulation process was carried out by using PES-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution dispersed with zeolite powde, and then, the extruded spinning solution was coagulated at 25 °C in water to form zeolite composite fibers. The resultant fiber composited with 59 wt % zeolite loading in PES fiber had 0.75 nm diameter and 136 m2/g surface area and adsorbed 136 mg/g saturation binding to nonradioactive Cs, obeying Langmuir analysis. For decontamination of radioactive Cs in the city of Date during October–December 2012 for 28 days, the fiber adsorbent was used in a rice field side river. A total of 7700 Bq/kg of radioactive Cs was captured in the composite fiber, while zeolite powder was shown with 33 Bq/kg. The comparison indicated that the fiber adsorbent was excellent during their long termed immersion in the field river. Also, in the town of Okuma in January–November 20...