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Desorption technologies for remediation of cesium-contaminated soils: a short review

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Abstract

This review summarizes the mechanisms for desorbing and extracting cesium (Cs+) from clay minerals and soil. Most techniques use ion exchange with acids, cations, polymers, and surfactants. Some improve desorption of Cs+ from clay minerals, while surfactants and polymers expand the interlayer. Mixtures of acids/polymers, acids/surfactants, cations/polymers, and cations/surfactants are therefore more effective agents for desorption of Cs+ from clay minerals. Hydrothermal treatment plays a role similar to that of polymers and surfactants in expanding the interlayer of clay minerals. The primary desorption mechanism expands the interlayer and desorbs Cs+, but multiple sequential extractions based on these techniques can more effectively desorb Cs+ from clay minerals and field-contaminated soils. Desorption techniques for Cs+ based on multiple sequential extractions can reportedly achieve an efficiency greater than 90%, and such approaches are likely to be important technologies for remediation of Cs+-contaminated soils and industrial accident sites, as well as the dismantling of nuclear power plants.

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Acknowledgements

This subject is supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as “The SEM (Subsurface Environment Management) Projects; G232019011571” and partially supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (Grant No: 2019R1A4A1027795).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment and Energy & Soil Environment Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, 54896, Republic of Korea

    Sang-Min Park, Jong-Gook Kim, Hye-Bin Kim & Kitae Baek

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Andong National University, 1375 Kyungdong-ro, Andong-si, Kyungsangbuk-do, 36729, Republic of Korea

    Young-Hun Kim

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  1. Sang-Min Park
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  2. Jong-Gook Kim
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Correspondence to Kitae Baek.

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Park, SM., Kim, JG., Kim, HB. et al. Desorption technologies for remediation of cesium-contaminated soils: a short review. Environ Geochem Health 43, 3263–3272 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-020-00667-3

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