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Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques
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Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Waste and Recycling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 22981

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hosam Saleh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Radioisotope Department, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 13759, Egypt
Interests: radioactive and hazardous waste management; application of friendly environmental agents in radioactive waste management; development of matrices for immobilization of radioactive and hazardous wastes; application of organic and inorganic materials as additives to form cement composites as immobilizing matrices for hazardous wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud Dawoud

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Radioisotope Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 11787, Egypt
Interests: environmental engineering; wastewater treatment; radioactive waste management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the more than 30 years since the Chernobyl accident, which is equal to the half-life of the cesium-137 isotope, the scientific community has turned its focus to radioactive waste management and the development of sustainable solutions for nuclear pollution issues. Radioactive contaminants are among the most dangerous types of pollutants due to their sustained and destructive impact. However, the wide range of peaceful applications of nuclear technology in various fields, such as industrial, medicinal, agricultural, research, and others are growing, leading to more challenges associated with the sustainability of radioactive waste management to attain environmental and economic benefits. Therefore, it has become necessary to search for innovative, sustainable methods of radioactive waste management. Deep burial of contaminated material is not considered a final and sustainable solution and bequeaths severe problems to future generations. The most important of sustainable solutions is safe management of all products of nuclear industry processes, whether gas, liquid, or solid materials. This includes information about those isotopes, which are related to their radioactive intensity and the time when their danger ends, as well as clarifying aspects related to transportation and temporary and final storage. Radioactive waste management is one of the most important pillars of sustainability when dealing with these hazardous wastes. Management in the case of radionuclides with a long half-life reduces the period of radiotoxicity and ionization power of these radioactive wastes. Sustainable technologies also include treatment and stabilization of these wastes using green chemistry and natural adsorption mechanisms. Stabilization by low-cost and effective materials to immobilize and solidify these radioactive wastes and to isolate it from the surrounding environment is also one of the techniques for achieving sustainability. In this Special Issue, we would like to get different perspectives from diverse researchers with different scientific backgrounds in chemistry, physics, medicine, agriculture, engineering, and economics to understand the mechanism of interaction of these materials with the surrounding environment and how to treat, stabilize and dispose of radioactive waste in eco-friendly and innovative ways that meet the requirements of sustainability.

The rapid growth in the use of radioisotopes to meet the requirements of humankind, whether in energy, industry, agriculture or medicine, is inevitable. If this rapid growth is not followed by an evolution in scientific research and the development of sustainable tools for managing the generated radioactive waste resulting from these processes, an environmental disaster will occur in the next few years. Many countries produce thousands of tons of radioactive waste annually, and some of them contain highly dangerous radioactivity; hence, it has become irresponsible to future generations to make them face the danger of this waste. This Special Issue seeks contributions related to all parts of radioactive waste management via innovative and sustainable methods. All backgrounds and references are welcome as long as they contribute to inventing methods that can develop this sector. The topics include, but are not limited to, the handling, treatment, stabilization, and disposal of radioactive waste, whether that waste is liquid, solid, or gaseous.

Prof. Dr. Hosam M. Saleh
Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud Dawoud
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • radioactive waste
  • solid radioactive waste
  • liquid radioactive waste
  • radioactive waste management
  • sustainability
  • sustainable radioactive waste management
  • radioactive waste remediation
  • radioactive waste treatment, radioactive waste immobilization
  • radioactive waste disposal, sustainable treatment of radioactive waste
  • sustainable management techniques
  • sustainable performance indicators
  • sustainable materials in waste stabilization
  • phytoremediation of radionuclides
  • advanced techniques in nuclear waste management

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 192 KiB  
Editorial
Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques
by Hosam M. Saleh and Amal I. Hassan
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5792; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15075792 - 27 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1091
Abstract
Radioisotopes, also known as radionuclides, are atoms with unstable nuclei that emit ionizing radiation [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 3231 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Activated Materials of Disposed Medical Linear Accelerators according to Clearance Level for Self-Disposal
by Young Jae Jang, Na Hye Kwon, Seong Hee Park, Yona Choi, Kum Bae Kim, Dong Wook Kim, Suk Ho Bhang and Sang Hyoun Choi
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4100; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15054100 - 23 Feb 2023
Viewed by 2148
Abstract
In Korea, when replacing or discarding parts of a medical linear accelerator (linac), self-disposal is required in the consideration of the activity, but there is no standard regulation to manage radioactive waste. The aim of this study is to check the activity of [...] Read more.
In Korea, when replacing or discarding parts of a medical linear accelerator (linac), self-disposal is required in the consideration of the activity, but there is no standard regulation to manage radioactive waste. The aim of this study is to check the activity of each part to determine the disposal time according to the clearance level for self-disposal. The results of measuring the components of the linac head parts of the disposed Varian, Elekta, and Siemens equipment were reflected in the Monte Carlo simulation to confirm the radionuclide change according to the presence or absence of impurities. To confirm the degree of activation of the linac, the main radionuclides according to the time after the linac shutdown, considering the workloads of 40/80 Gy/day of 10/15 MV linac irradiated with beams for 10 years in the results of the simulation of the linac parts, and the radionuclide concentration was confirmed. As a result of applying the clearance level for self-disposal in the notice of the Korean Nuclear Safety (KINS) to each linac head part, most parts of the 10 MV linac could be dismantled after 1 month, and 15 MV target and primary collimators were stored after a long period of time before being dismantled. Although additional radionuclides were identified according to the presence or absence of impurities, the disposal timing for each part did not change significantly. In this study, the clearance level for self-disposal for each radionuclide was applied to activated parts by three manufacturers to confirm the self-disposal timing and predict the timing at which workers are not exposed to radiation during dismantling/disposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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16 pages, 4280 KiB  
Article
Using Agricultural Mixed Waste as a Sustainable Technique for Removing Stable Isotopes and Radioisotopes from the Aquatic Environment
by Arwa A. Abdelhamid, Mogeda H. Badr, Ramadan A. Mohamed and Hosam M. Saleh
Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1600; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15021600 - 13 Jan 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1492
Abstract
In the current study, dried ground mixed waste of olive waste and water hyacinth was subjected to the treatment of wastewater contaminated with stable or radioactive cobalt and cesium. Contact time, temperature, amount of adsorbent, metal ion concentration and pH-value were evaluated as [...] Read more.
In the current study, dried ground mixed waste of olive waste and water hyacinth was subjected to the treatment of wastewater contaminated with stable or radioactive cobalt and cesium. Contact time, temperature, amount of adsorbent, metal ion concentration and pH-value were evaluated as the most potent factors that affect the adsorption process. Concentrations of Co and Cs ions before and after treatment are measured using ICP-OES technique. Moreover, kinetic and equilibrium isotherm parameters were investigated by explaining the equilibrium data by induction of two isotherms, “Langmuir” and “Freundlich”. Experimental results indicated that more than 85% of 60Co and 134Cs were efficiently removed from spiked wastewater after one hour of contact time by using 0.2 g of dried mixed waste. The optimal time to remove Cs+ and Co2+ was 50 and 90 min, respectively. The kinetic study showed that the adsorption of Cs+ and Co2+ were better suited to the second order. The most favorable pH value was at a range of 6–7 for Cs+ and 5–6 for Co2+. R2 values were higher at the Freundlich isotherm, indicating that the adsorption process was taking place according to Freundlich isotherm at all temperatures for Co2+ and Cs+ ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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19 pages, 3436 KiB  
Article
Natural Radioactivity Measurements and Radiological Hazards Evaluation for Some Egyptian Granites and Ceramic Tiles
by Essam Sidique, Sedky H. A. Hassan and Mohammad Mahmoud Dawoud
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14611; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142114611 - 07 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1268
Abstract
All over the world, people widely use granites and ceramic tiles in their residential establishments. Information concerning the radiological properties of such materials reveals how to ensure the sustainability of their safe use in terms of these properties. In the present work, the [...] Read more.
All over the world, people widely use granites and ceramic tiles in their residential establishments. Information concerning the radiological properties of such materials reveals how to ensure the sustainability of their safe use in terms of these properties. In the present work, the distribution of the terrestrial radioisotopes U-238 (Ra-226), Th-232, and K-40 for 23 different brands of Egyptian commercial granites and ceramic tiles samples (widely used domestically and exported) was determined using gamma radiation spectroscopy. This process pinpoints the possible radiological health risks related to gamma ray exposure and radon gas resulting from the use of these materials indoors. The concentration values of the aforementioned radioisotopes in the examined samples were compared to the corresponding global average values (GAVs) of the UNSCEAR and to those available in other countries. The overall average concentrations for U-238, Th-232, and K-40 in the total samples were observed to be 46.17 ± 2.81 (less than its GAV), 51.65 ± 2.35 (slightly above its GAV), and 701.62 ± 40.60 Bq/kg (1.4 times greater than the GAV), respectively. The related radiological parameters and indices were calculated and compared to the prescribed limits set by commissions and organizations concerned with radiation protection (the WHO, ICRP, UNSCEAR, and EC) to ensure the safe use of the investigated granites and ceramic tiles. The assessed indices and parameters fall within the recommended values and safety limits. In conclusion, there is no risk from using the granites and ceramic tiles under investigation in residential facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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17 pages, 2508 KiB  
Article
Optical Properties and Gamma Radiation Shielding Capability of Transparent Barium Borosilicate Glass Composite
by Mohamed Ehab, Elsayed Salama, Ahmed Ashour, Mohamed Attallah and Hosam M. Saleh
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13298; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013298 - 16 Oct 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1653
Abstract
In this study, both radiation shielding capability and optical properties of prepared SiO2-ZnO-Na2CO3-H3BO3-BaCO3 glass composite with different concentrations of barium carbonate (0–30 mol%) have been studied. Gamma attenuation properties, such as the [...] Read more.
In this study, both radiation shielding capability and optical properties of prepared SiO2-ZnO-Na2CO3-H3BO3-BaCO3 glass composite with different concentrations of barium carbonate (0–30 mol%) have been studied. Gamma attenuation properties, such as the mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), mean free path (MFP), and exposure build-up factor (EBF), are experimentally and theoretically investigated. The detected XRD patterns for the prepared glass composites confirm their amorphous nature. It is evident from the obtained data that all tested parameters, such as mass density, molar volume, refractive index, dielectric constant, refraction loss (%), and molar refraction, have been increased as BaCO3 mol% increased. At the same time, the results of the optical bandgap show a gradual decrease with increasing barium concentration. It was also found that the mass attenuation coefficients increased with BaCO3 concentration from 0.078 at zero mol% BaCO3 to 0.083 cm2/g at 30 mol%. Moreover, the half-value layer (HVL) and the exposure build-up factor (EBF) up to 40 mfp penetration depth were investigated in addition to the effective atomic number (Zeff) and the corresponding equivalent atomic number (Zeq) at the energy range of 0.015–15 MeV. The produced glass composite might be considered for many shielding applications based on the obtained results that require a transparent shielding material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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14 pages, 2190 KiB  
Article
Transfer of Natural Radionuclides from Soil to Abu Dhabi Date Palms
by Prasoon Raj, Nemeer Padiyath, Natalia Semioshkina, Francois Foulon, Ahmed K. Alkaabi, Gabriele Voigt and Yacine Addad
Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11327; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811327 - 09 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2123
Abstract
Nuclear power and modern agriculture are two crucial sectors for sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As these industries mature rapidly in the country, their long-term inter-compatibility needs monitoring with local data on transfer of radionuclides from arid sandy soils to [...] Read more.
Nuclear power and modern agriculture are two crucial sectors for sustainable development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As these industries mature rapidly in the country, their long-term inter-compatibility needs monitoring with local data on transfer of radionuclides from arid sandy soils to farm products. Date palms, main crop from the Arabian Peninsula, remain largely unstudied for radioecological impact assessments. This paper reports the first measurement of soil to UAE date palms concentration ratios for natural radionuclides. Representative samples of soils, fruits, and leaves from seven palms in Abu Dhabi have been studied using gamma-spectrometry. Average activity concentrations in the soils are around 278.9 Bq kg−1 for 40K, 15.5 Bq kg−1 for 238U, and 8.3 Bq kg−1 for 232Th. The latter two decay chains, in the plant samples, are close to detection limits, signifying their lower levels in the UAE flora and the need for upgrading analytical techniques. The geometric means of soil to fruit concentration ratios are 1.12 for 40K, but negligibly low for the others—approximately 0.08 for 238U and 0.17 for 232Th chains. The respective ratios for the leaves are approximately 0.13, 0.36, and 0.77. Personal radiation doses due to soils and dates are very low, posing no danger to the public. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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10 pages, 626 KiB  
Article
Elicitation Promoability with Gamma Irradiation, Chitosan and Yeast to Perform Sustainable and Inclusive Development for Marjoram under Organic Agriculture
by Tarek E. Sayed and El-Sayed S. Ahmed
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159608 - 04 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1298
Abstract
Sweet marjoram (Majorana hortensis) is an important aromatic herbal plant that has long been used and well managed in the traditional and general medical, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and perfume industries. Thus, the increase in its productivity appears to be of great [...] Read more.
Sweet marjoram (Majorana hortensis) is an important aromatic herbal plant that has long been used and well managed in the traditional and general medical, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and perfume industries. Thus, the increase in its productivity appears to be of great value since there is a large number of bioactive secondary metabolites as well as an increase in the demand in domestic or foreign markets. The purpose of this study is the possibility of promoting the sustainable development of marjoram in the framework of organic farming through gamma irradiation, chitosan and yeast. Field experiments were conducted in a factorial split-plot design with three iterations over two consecutive seasons (2019 and 2020). The main plot is an abiotic elicitor (15 Gy gamma irradiation), two biotic elicitors 500 ppm chitosan, 0.5% yeast, and a non-elicitor (as control), while in the sub-main plot, there were two organic fertilizers, water extract of moringa 20 g/m2 dry leaves, 20 g/m2 fulvic acid, and 20 g/m2 (NPK); the latter is a traditional agrochemical. Statistical analysis of all characteristics of production and quality of biomass and biologically active secondary metabolites revealed that the use of organic fertilizers helped in increasing the yield of marjoram, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and significantly outperformed the chemical fertilizer. The experiment enhances the comprehensive and integrated development of marjoram under organic cultivation and achieves a promising alternative to traditional cultivation without the use of microbicides and/or agrochemical pesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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13 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
Rhyolite as a Naturally Sustainable Thermoluminescence Material for Dose Assessment Applications
by Elsayed Salama, Dalal A. Aloraini, Sara A. El-Khateeb and Mohamed Moustafa
Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6918; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116918 - 06 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1453
Abstract
Thermoluminescence characteristics of natural rhyolite have been studied. Dose response at a wide dose range of 0.5–2000 Gy has been determined. Minimum detectable dose and thermal fading rate are evaluated. Glow curve deconvolution is conducted after determining the best read-out conditions. The repeated [...] Read more.
Thermoluminescence characteristics of natural rhyolite have been studied. Dose response at a wide dose range of 0.5–2000 Gy has been determined. Minimum detectable dose and thermal fading rate are evaluated. Glow curve deconvolution is conducted after determining the best read-out conditions. The repeated initial rise (RIR) method is used to detect the overlapping peaks, and a glow curve deconvolution procedure is used to extract the thermoluminescence parameters of rhyolite. According to the findings, rhyolite glow curves show five interfering peaks corresponding to five electron trap levels at 142, 176, 221, 298, and 355 °C, respectively, at a heating rate of 3 °C/s. The obtained kinetic order for the deconvoluted peaks showed mixed-order kinetic. The reported results might be useful to introduce rhyolite as a natural sustainable material for radiation dosimetry applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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14 pages, 5594 KiB  
Article
Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Isolation Using Graphene Oxide for Alternative Radiopharmaceutical Spillage Decontamination in PET Scan
by Mohammad Khairul Azhar Abdul Razab, Norazlina Mat Nawi, Fara Hana Mohd Hadzuan, Nor Hakimin Abdullah, Maimanah Muhamad, Rosidah Sunaiwi, Fathirah Ibrahim, Farah Amanina Mohd Zin and An’amt Mohamed Noor
Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084492 - 09 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2246
Abstract
Radiopharmaceuticals (RPC) used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in nuclear medicine may contaminate surface areas due to spillage during its preparation or accident during RPC transfer from laboratory to the treatment room. Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is the most common RPC for [...] Read more.
Radiopharmaceuticals (RPC) used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in nuclear medicine may contaminate surface areas due to spillage during its preparation or accident during RPC transfer from laboratory to the treatment room. Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is the most common RPC for positron emission tomography (PET) scan in nuclear medicine due to its ideal annihilation converted energy at 511 keV and short half-life at 109.8 min. Ineffective medical waste management of 18F-FDG may pose a risk to the environment or cause unnecessary radiation doses to the personnel and public. Depending on the incident rate of these events, simple decontamination methods such as the use of chemicals and swabs might not be cost-effective and sustainable in the environment. This study aims to propose an alternative method to decontaminate 18F-FDG by using graphene oxide (GO). GO was synthesised using the Hummers method while the physical morphology was analysed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). 18F-FDG adsorption efficiency rate using GO nanolayers was analysed based on the kinetic study of the GO:18F-FDG mixtures. The chemical adsorbability of the material was analysed via UV–vis spectrophotometer to interlink the microstructures of GO with the sorption affinity interaction. Resultantly, the adsorption rate was effective at a slow decay rate and the optical adsorption of GO with 18F-FDG was dominated by the π → π* plasmon peak, which was near 230 nm. By elucidating the underlining GO special features, an alternative technique to isolate 18F-FDG for the decontamination process was successfully proven. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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14 pages, 3785 KiB  
Article
Asphaltene or Polyvinylchloride Waste Blended with Cement to Produce a Sustainable Material Used in Nuclear Safety
by Hosam M. Saleh, Ibrahim I. Bondouk, Elsayed Salama, Hazem H. Mahmoud, Khalid Omar and Heba A. Esawii
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3525; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063525 - 17 Mar 2022
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 1964
Abstract
The current research uses sustainable methods to preserve the environment, such as exploiting municipal or industrial waste that may harm the environment. The wreckage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and asphaltene are used as additives to cement to improve its mechanical properties, while [...] Read more.
The current research uses sustainable methods to preserve the environment, such as exploiting municipal or industrial waste that may harm the environment. The wreckage of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and asphaltene are used as additives to cement to improve its mechanical properties, while stabilizing the radioactive waste resulting from the peaceful uses of nuclear materials, or enhancing its radiation shielding efficiency. New composites of Portland cement with ground PVC or asphaltene up to 50% are investigated. Fast neutron removal cross-section (ƩR) and gamma shielding parameters, such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), and exposure build-up factor (EBF) at wide energy range and thickness, are determined. The compressive strength and apparent porosity of the examined composites are examined to test the durability of the prepared composites as stabilizers for radioactive waste. The obtained results show that the bulk density of hardened cementitious composites was slightly increased by increasing the additive amount of PVC or asphaltene. The compressive strength of cement composites reached more than 4.5 MP at 50 wt.% PVC and 8.8 MPa at 50 wt.% asphaltene. These values are significantly higher than those recommended by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (3.4 MPa). Additionally, the obtained results demonstrate that although the gamma MAC is slightly decreased by adding asphaltene or PVC, the neutron removal cross-section was highly increased, reaching 171% in the case of 50 wt.% asphaltene and 304% in the case of 50 wt.% PVC. We can conclude that cement composites with PVC or asphaltene have optimized radiation shielding properties and can stabilize radioactive waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

22 pages, 1435 KiB  
Review
Chelating Agents in Assisting Phytoremediation of Uranium-Contaminated Soils: A Review
by Yue You, Junfeng Dou, Yu Xue, Naifu Jin and Kai Yang
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6379; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106379 - 23 May 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3886
Abstract
Massive stockpiles of uranium (U) mine tailings have resulted in soil contamination with U. Plants for soil remediation have low extraction efficiency of U. Chelating agents can mobilize U in soils and, hence, enhance phytoextraction of U from the soil. However, the rapid [...] Read more.
Massive stockpiles of uranium (U) mine tailings have resulted in soil contamination with U. Plants for soil remediation have low extraction efficiency of U. Chelating agents can mobilize U in soils and, hence, enhance phytoextraction of U from the soil. However, the rapid mobilization rate of soil U by chelating agents in a short period than plant uptake rate could increase the risk of groundwater contamination with soluble U leaching down the soil profile. This review summarizes recent progresses in synthesis and application of chelating agents for assisting phytoremediation of U-contaminated soils. In detail, the interactions between chelating agents and U ions are initially elucidated. Subsequently, the mechanisms of phytoextraction and effectiveness of different chelating agents for phytoremediation of U-contaminated soils are given. Moreover, the potential risks associated with chelating agents are discussed. Finally, the synthesis and application of slow-release chelating agents for slowing down metal mobilization in soils are presented. The application of slow-release chelating agents for enhancing phytoextraction of soil U is still scarce. Hence, we propose the preparation of slow-release biodegradable chelating agents, which can control the release speed of chelating agent into the soil in order to match the mobilization rate of soil U with plant uptake rate, while diminishing the risk of residual chelating agent leaching to groundwater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radioactivity: Sustainable Materials and Innovative Techniques)
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