About this Research Topic

Background

A large amount of radioactive wastewater is produced every day during the normal operation of nuclear power plants. This wastewater has the characteristics of being extremely varied in terms of concentration, composition and radioactivity, with the added problem of its often high acidity and salinity, as well as high organic content, making it very complex to handle. Furthermore, the complexity is amplified by the presence of a diverse mixture of radionuclides, including alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) emitters. Additionally, the emissions extend beyond these types, encompassing neutron emissions and various forms of electromagnetic radiation, including X-rays. All this radioactive water poses a tremendous danger to the environment due to the long life of radionuclides and their migration ease. Some of the dangers of having radioactive water in the environment include health risks from ionizing radiation, ecosystem contamination, long-term environmental impact, soil and groundwater contamination, and social and economic implications. The development of efficient, easily scalable and cost-effective treatments for the removal of radionuclides from contaminated water is of the outmost importance.

A combination of different techniques based on filtration, ion-exchange, adsorption, precipitation and evaporation are normally required to separate and concentrate radioactive waste until the radionuclides concentration in the water is deemed safe enough for it to be treated as normal wastewater or discharged to the environment. The utilization of these techniques not only aids in achieving safe radionuclide levels but also offers an additional advantage by facilitating the use of immobilization treatments, where the concentrated waste can be effectively encapsulated or solidified for long-term storage or disposal. Among the aforementioned techniques, adsorption has the advantage of low cost, operational simplicity, high efficiency and no secondary pollution. Traditional adsorbents employed for the removal of radionuclides include activated carbon, ion exchange resins, zeolites, and mineral-based sorbents. Additionally, non-traditional adsorbents, such as biosorbents derived from natural materials like algae, bacteria, and agricultural waste, have shown promise in effectively removing radionuclides from contaminated water sources. Despite the advantages of sorption, many efforts are still needed to improve selectivity, stability, and regeneration, with other characteristics such as the ability to remove several radionuclides species, highly desirable.

The aim of this Research Topic is to become a platform for the discussion of current trends and advancements in the removal of radionuclides from wastewater, with particular emphasis on sorption technologies, but also covering other important emerging methods. We welcome original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews and perspectives dealing with:
• New resin-based and inorganic ion exchangers for ionic nuclides removal
• Emerging materials for radionuclides removal through solubility control
• Emerging and advanced sorbents for radionuclides removal, such as: porous organic polymers (POPs), geopolymers, organic-inorganic hybrids (MOFs, COFs), and nanomaterials-based sorbents (including magnetic nanoparticles and (bio)nanocomposites).
• Waste-derived sorbents for radionuclides removal.
• Sorbents with the ability to adsorb multiple radionuclides.
• Theoretical, computational and mechanistic studies of the related sorption processes, especially those related with the treatment of complex, real waste solutions.
• Combination of sorption with other processes, such as advanced oxidation processes (photocatalysis, ozonation, Fenton reagents, etc.), coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, membrane filtration, ion exchange, and electrochemical methods.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Data Report
• Editorial
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: radionuclides removal, radioactive wastewater, sorption, adsorbents, ion exhange

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