Removal of radioactive cesium from the contaminated water by radiation-grafted fabrics

放射線グラフト重合繊維による水からの放射性セシウムの除去に関する研究

瀬古 典明

Seko, Noriaki

To selectively remove radioactive cesium (Cs) from such contaminated water, a fibrous polymer absorbent has been developed by introducing ammonium 12-molybdophosphate (AMP) onto polyethylene nonwoven fabric with radiation-induced graft polymerization technique. To take a step-by-step approach in the validation with radioactive Cs, the AMP grafted absorbents folded in a cartridge of 4 cm diameter and 3.8 cm height were used in a pond in Iitate-Mura, Fukushima, and 15 cm diameter and 30 cm height in the water of the pool of a school in Fukushima city. Both of these tests for decontamination of dissolved radioactive Cs proceeded successfully. Furthermore, we had conducted a monitoring test throughout one year by utilizing the water purifier filled with the AMP grafted adsorbent at private houses in Kawauchi-Mura, Fukushima. As a result, no radioactive Cs has been detected in tap water filtered through the water purifier, so the developed adsorbent has sufficient effectiveness to trap radioactive cesium. From these evaluations, we have commercialized the Cs-cut grafted fabric adsorbent as water purifier named "KranCsair" on July, 2014.