Adsorption of Cesium Ion on Various Clay Minerals and Remediation of Cesium Contaminated Soil in Japan

Abstract

It has been estimated that as much as 29 million m3 of contaminated soil and fallen leaves should be removed and stored in interim storage facilities as a result of the Fukushima nuclear crisis that followed the earthquake in 2011. In this research, a soil remediation method was investigated in order to reduce the intermediate storage. In other words, screening and washing of cesium (Cs) contaminated soil, as well as Cs adsorption onto various clay minerals have been tested. It was found that screening and washing were effective in reducing radioactivity; clay minerals such as zeolite, biotite, montmorillonite and muscovite adsorbed Cs well. In addition, flotation can be applied to these minerals, so they can be removed from soil, which would lead in further reduction of radioactivity. If the radioactivity of contaminated soil can be reduced sufficiently, the soil can return to the nature. © 2013, The Resources Processing Society of Japan. All rights reserved.