Magnetic composites as an effective technology for removal of radioactive cesium

Radioactive cesium (137Cs) has seriously become a human concern owing to exposure from a nuclear accident release at a nuclear plant. Many efforts have focused at the removal of radioactive cesium and remediation of a contaminated environment. To meet these demands, an effective sorbent based on magnetic composites functionalized with synthetic clay minerals was demonstrated. This sorbent shows a high removal efficiency of contaminated water containing suspended sorbents at a level of 0.5 mg ml−1 [137Cs of 84.68 Becquerel (Bq) gram (g)−1], decontaminated to 0.47 Bq g−1 (99.44 % removal efficiency) with just one treatment. The radioactive cesium is dramatically adsorbed into synthetic clay minerals. Subsequently, a rapid and easy sorbent separation from the radioactive cesium solution occurs after treatment using a magnetic field. Thus, a magnetic sodium-phlogopite sorbent can offer high potential for in situ remediation.