Clean 1 ton of radioactive water with 1 gram of new material

Recently scientists at Queensland University of Technology (Australia) said that it has successfully developed the first smart material in the world that has the ability to absorb and remove radioactive substances in the water very effectively to save the amount big country.

Nuclear power plants are often built near water sources in order to cool the waste heat of the plant. This means that water will be contaminated with radiation if a nuclear disaster occurs.

GS Zhu Huai-Yong with titaniumate nanoparticles available
can remove radioactive material from contaminated water (Photo: Gizmag)

Smart materials developed by Professor Zhu Huai-Yong at Queensland University of Technology in partnership with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization and the University of Pennsylvania (USA) are composed of Titanate nanotubes and nanotubes . Unlike current cleaning methods, new materials are capable of absorbing deadly radioactive substances in polluted water. The radioactive material will then be safely disposed of without causing a risk of leakage even if the material is wet.

Operation of the device is as follows: when polluted water flows through the nanotubes and fibers, the ion of Cesium (Cs +) radiation is trapped here due to the change in the structure of the material. In addition, by adding silver oxide nanocrystals on the surface, nanostructures can retain radioactive iodine ions (I-). These ions are then used to treat thyroid cancer, or used as medical probes and diagnostics.

'One gram of nanofiber can clean at least 1 ton of contaminated water,' Professor Zhu said. 'Materials will help save a large amount of water and prevent the risk of radioactivity entering the soil'.

Currently Australia is a producer of Titania, the raw material used to make Titanate nanotubes and nanotubes, the world's largest.