Radiocesium and Strontium Separation from Aqueous Nuclear Waste
This community develops materials and methods to capture radioactive cesium and strontium ions from water, primarily to treat wastewater from nuclear power plants and manage radioactive waste.
The work centers on the removal of cesium-137 and strontium-90 from aqueous solutions, with a heavy emphasis on the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident. Recurring methods include adsorption using Prussian blue analogues, ion exchange resins, and zeolite-based membranes. Analytical techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry are frequently cited for determining radionuclide concentrations. The research spans the design of new sorbents, the assessment of soil contamination, and the forensic analysis of nuclear fuel and waste streams.
The largest share of the community's output is found in caesium research, accounting for 11.7% of all tracked caesium papers, and 2,226 papers here. Plutonium research also contributes significantly, with 2,947 papers representing 8.0% of that element's total research.
The community comprises 30,767 papers, publishing most frequently in the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, and Applied Radiation and Isotopes.
Recent work continues to focus on selective cesium extraction from brines and wastewater, utilizing advanced materials such as metal-organic frameworks, zeolite-type metal sulfides, and Prussian blue analogues, alongside studies on strontium separation via electrochemical ion exchange.