South Korean researchers have developed a material that can effectively absorb radioactive cesium dissolved in underground or seawater.
 
Professor Yoon Kyung-byung of Sogang University and Assistant Professor Hwang In-chul of Sogang University's Center for Nano Materials announced that they have developed vanadosilicate SGU-45, which absorbs 40 times more radioactive cesium than current absorbents.
 
The research team said the new material absorbs cesium dissolved in polluted water by exchanging ions with potassium ions in SGU-45. It said the lower the concentration of cesium, the better the absorption power. It said the speed of absorption is also twice as fast as previous materials.
 
Current cesium absorbents have the drawback of weakening in absorption power when cesium concentration falls below one ppm.
 
Radioactive cesium is one of the most dangerous radioactive elements. It is easily absorbed in soil and agricultural crops as it readily melts in water. A tiny intake causes cancer in people.
 
The research has been published in the Internet edition of the international chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie.