Development of technology to reduce environmental problems via innovative water purification agents

Lead Research Organisation: Diamond Light Source
Department Name: Physical Sciences

Abstract

In this project we aim to develop new materials for the selective removal and long-term sequestration of radioactive Sr-90. This is of importance in Japan to help in the clean-up activities around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and in the UK to help in the clean-up of legacy waste at the Sellafield site and elsewhere. Although materials exist for removing Sr-90 from contaminated water, all have some limitations and/or high cost and therefore basic research aimed towards making new and improved materials is justified. The ideal adsorbent would be highly selective for Sr-90 in the presence of larger amounts of competitive cations (e.g. Ca, Mg, Na or K), be stable and effective over a large pH range, have a good capacity for Sr-90, be reusable, be easily made in bulk at low cost and have a simple and proven route to a safe and stable wasteform after its end of use. We target materials that have the potential to fulfil all of these criteria based on preliminary synthesis work already done in Japan (Shinshu and Tohuku Universities) with essential research in the UK supporting the characterisation and understanding of how the materials work (Diamond Light Source) and the production of wasteforms after use (University of Sheffield).

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Materials made by the Japanese researchers on the grant have been studied using synchrotron X-ray techniques at Diamond Light Source. These have shown that improved performance for removing radionuclides from solution due to the addition of ancillary metal ions to the synthesis mixture cannot be attributed to the additional metals substituting into the main solid phase. This means other factors control this improvement in the key property and we are investigating what these might be. Once understood, this may lead to the production of a new generation of materials deployable for cleanup at the Fukushima Diichi site.
Exploitation Route The outcomes may lead to a new family of ion exchange materials that can be used to treat water contamined by radionuclides due to accidental release or during decommissioning activities.
Sectors Energy

Environment

 
Description The materials produced in Japan have proven suitable for future studies for decontamination of water. Although resource is not yet available to take things forward, our understanding is that efforts are continuing there with a hope of future commercialisation.
First Year Of Impact 2023
Sector Energy,Environment
 
Title CSD 2178841: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Daniel S. Parsons, Antony Nearchou, Joseph A. Hriljac|2022|Inorg.Chem.|61|14695|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02053 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2c4860&sid=DataCite
 
Title CSD 2178842: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination 
Description Related Article: Daniel S. Parsons, Antony Nearchou, Joseph A. Hriljac|2022|Inorg.Chem.|61|14695|doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02053 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.25505/fiz.icsd.cc2c4871&sid=DataCite
 
Description National Nuclear Laboratory 
Organisation National Nuclear Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Producing materials for decommissioning and clean-up activities
Collaborator Contribution Discussions regarding potential application of new technologies for decommissioning
Impact None yet
Start Year 2014
 
Description Presentation at the British Zeolite Association Annual Meeting: In-situ powder X-ray diffraction studies of Cs-exchange in the zeolite chabazite 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact 80 attendees at the meeting listened to a presentation by Dan Parsons co-authored by Anthony Nearchou and Joe Hriljac
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at the European Crystallographic Meeting, Versailles, France 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dan Parsons presented the talk "In-situ PXRD studies of Cs-ion exchange in the zeolite chabazite". It was well received with many questions afterwards and it sparked wider interest in the type of study and equipment used.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.ecm33.fr/
 
Description Presentation in the Symposium "Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management" at the Materials Research Society meeting in Boston, USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dan Parsons presented the talk "In-situ powder X-ray diffraction studies of Cs-exchange in the zeolite chabazite" . It was well received with many questions afterwards and it sparked wider interest in the type of study and equipment used.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.mrs.org/meetings-events/fall-meetings-exhibits/2022-mrs-fall-meeting/exhibit
 
Description Presentation of progress at the Japan-UK scoping workshop for the 10th call for joint projects 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact A presentation was made of results to date from the research grant.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023