REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM FROM OCEAN SLUDGE BY THE BACTERIUM USING PURIFICATION SYSTEM OF CIRCULATION TYPE

Authors

  • Tomoe Komoriya
  • Kyoichi Okamoto
  • Takashi Toyama

Keywords:

Radioactive Cesium, Ocean Sludge, Micro-bubble, Bacteria

Abstract

The Fukushima nuclear accident of March 11, 2011, resulted in soil and water contamination
by radioactive cesium. Radioactive cesium transported by rivers was also found in the ocean sludge of Tokyo
Bay. Cesium adsorbed on the sludge is not easily removed. One of the authors has developed an ocean sludge
decomposition system that employs micro-bubble circulation. The circulation of micro-bubbles creates an
aerobic state that activates aerobic bacteria, facilitating decomposition and purification of the sludge. The
objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the addition of bacteria to the micro-bubble circulation
system on the efficient removal of radioactive cesium from ocean sludge. We tested the water purification
effect of the system by adding bacteria directly. Results confirmed that the decomposition of the deposited
sludge using our system facilitates the elution of the radioactive cesium. Any cesium eluted in the water can
be remedied using existing technology such as zeolites. Purification efficiency seems to be greatest when
additional bacteria are added directly to the process. With time, bacterial concentration doubles, and 76% of
cesium in the liquid phase (dried sludge) and 51% of cesium in the solid phase (water) is removed.

Downloads

Published

2021-11-24

How to Cite

Tomoe Komoriya, Kyoichi Okamoto, & Takashi Toyama. (2021). REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE CESIUM FROM OCEAN SLUDGE BY THE BACTERIUM USING PURIFICATION SYSTEM OF CIRCULATION TYPE. GEOMATE Journal, 15(47), 53–57. Retrieved from https://geomatejournal.com/geomate/article/view/838

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)