Molecularly-imprinted Bio-adsorbents for the Emission Control of Radioactive Wastes from the Nuclear Power Plant

Principal Investigator
Kean Wang
Department
Chemical Engineering
Focus Area
Clean & Renewable Energy
Molecularly-imprinted Bio-adsorbents for the Emission Control of Radioactive Wastes from the Nuclear Power Plant

The UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant will start operation soon. However, past disasters (e.g., the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in 2011 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986) arose significant social/environmental concerns. Advanced technologies are therefore needed to ensure reliable collection and treatment of radioactive nuclear waste streams. This project will develop low-cost, highly efficient bio-adsorbents for removing radioactive isotopes such as iodine (129I, 131I and metals ions 60Co) produced in a nuclear reactor and found in its waste-waters. Bench and Pilot-scale experiments will be conducted. Chitosan, a derivative of chin (shell of shrimps/crabs/lobsters) will be cross linked with various cross linkers, molecularly imprinted for each isotope and tested for their practical separation performance. Such adsorbents can be economically produced in large quantities and able to remove specific isotopes at a very low concentration.

Molecularly-imprinted Bio-adsorbents for the Emission Control of Radioactive Wastes from the Nuclear Power Plant