Silver Nanomaterial-Immobilized Desalination Systems for Efficient Removal of Radioactive Iodine Species in Water

• Main Authors: Ha Eun Shim, Jung Eun Yang, Sun-Wook Jeong, Chang Heon Lee, Lee Song, Sajid Mushtaq, Dae Seong Choi, Yong Jun Choi, Jongho Jeon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: bioremediation; desalination; membrane; nanocomposite; radioactive iodine; silver nanomaterials
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/8/9/660

Increasing concerns regarding the adverse effects of radioactive iodine waste have inspired the development of a highly efficient and sustainable desalination process for the treatment of radioactive iodine-contaminated water. Because of the high affinity of silver towards iodine species, silver nanoparticles immobilized on a cellulose acetate membrane (Ag-CAM) and biogenic silver nanoparticles containing the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans (Ag-DR) were developed and investigated for desalination performance in removing radioactive iodines from water. A simple filtration of radioactive iodine using Ag-CAM under continuous in-flow conditions (approximately 1.5 mL/s) provided an excellent removal efficiency (>99%) as well as iodide anion-selectivity. In the bioremediation study, the radioactive iodine was rapidly captured by Ag-DR in the presence of high concentration of competing anions in a short time. The results from both procedures can be visualized by using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning. This work presents a promising desalination method for the removal of radioactive iodine and a practical application model for remediating radioelement-contaminated waters.