REMOVAL OF CESIUM FROM SEA SLUDGE THROUGH DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATTER WITH AQUEOUS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Abstract

The radioactive cesium scattered from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant has caused a pollution
problem in Japan. To tackle such accidents, many technologies have been developed to remove radioactive
cesium from water. However, the technology to decontaminate the sludge is much less advanced than that for
water. Thus, we focus on the decomposition of organic matter by H2O2 for decontaminating the sludge. The
maximum decontamination of the sea sludge by H2O2 was found to be 2.6 times higher than that by water alone,
and the greatest decontamination was obtained using 34.5% H2O2. We believe the extent of decontamination
increased for this solution because the solution pH was near the pHpzc, which would suppress the ability of the
sludge to absorb Cs ions. We also examined the effect of time on the decontamination of the sea sludge;
however, only a small increase in decontamination (1.7 times the initial value) was observed.