Removal of cesium ions from contaminated seawater in closed area using adsorptive fiber

Someya, Takaaki*; Asai, Shiho; Fujiwara, Kunio*; Sugo, Takanobu*; Umeno, Daisuke*; Saito, Kyoichi*

A large amount of seriously contaminated sea water with radioactive Cs has been reserved in semi-enclosed coastal sea area which is separated by silt fences and embankments. Insoluble cobalt ferrocyanide (Co-FC) microparticles-impregnated fiber was developed for removing Cs from the contaminated sea water. The resultant Co-FC-impregnated fiber was immersed in either nonradioactive or radioactive Cs solution. The adsorption isotherm well correlated with a Langmuir-type equation. In addition, mass-transfer capacity coefficients were determined by fitting the experimental data of the rate of Cs adsorption onto the Co-FC-impregnated fiber to theoretical adsorption curves based on the Cs concentration difference between the bulk and the interface in seawater as a driving force of the overall adsorption rate. Decontamination factors as functions of fiber weight and the contact time required for the removal of cesium ions from the contaminated seawater in a closed area were estimated.