A novel vanadosilicate with hexadeca-coordinated Cs+ ions as a highly effective Cs+ remover

Abstract

The effective removal of 137Cs+ions from contaminated groundwater and seawater and from radioactive nuclear waste solutions is crucial for public health and for the continuous operation of nuclear power plants. Various 137Cs+removers have been developed, but more effective 137Cs+removers are still needed. A novel microporous vanadosilicate with mixed-valence vanadium (V4+ and V5+) ions is now reported, which shows an excellent ability for Cs+capture and immobilization from groundwater, seawater, and nuclear waste solutions. This material is superior to other known materials in terms of selectivity, capacity, and kinetics, and at very low Cs +concentrations, it was found to be the most effective material for the removal of radioactive Cs+ions under the test conditions. This novel vanadosilicate also contains hexadeca-coordinated Cs+ions, which corresponds to the highest coordination number ever described. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.