Intelligent absorbent removes radioactive material from water

Intelligent absorbent removes radioactive material from water
By Darren Quick
November 1, 2011
gizmag.com


Nuclear power plants are located close to sources of water, which is used as a coolant to handle the waste heat discharged by the plants. This means that water contaminated with radioactive material is often one of the problems to arise after a nuclear disaster. Researchers at Australia's Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have now developed what they say is a world-first intelligent absorbent that is capable of removing radioactive material from large amounts of contaminated water, resulting in clean water and concentrated waste that can be stored more efficiently.


http://easss.com/health


The new absorbent, which was developed by a QUT research team led by Professor Huai-Yong Zhu working in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Pennsylvania State University, uses titanate nanofiber and nanotube technology. Unlike current clean-up methods, such as a layered clays and zeolites, the new material is able to efficiently lock in deadly radioactive material from contaminated water and the used absorbents can then be safely disposed of without the risk of leakage - even if the material were to become wet.


When the contaminated water is run through the fine nanotubes and fibers, the radioactive Cesium (Cs+) ions are trapped through a structural change. Additionally, by adding silver oxide nanocrystals to the outer surface, the nanostructures are able to capture and immobilize radioactive iodine (I-) ions used in treatments for thyroid cancer, in probes and markers for medical diagnosis, and also found in leaks of nuclear accidents.


"One gram of the nanofibres can effectively purify at least one ton of polluted water," Professor Zhu said. "This saves large amounts of dangerous water needing to be stored somewhere and also prevents the risk of contaminated products leaking into the soil."


"Australia is one of the largest producers of titania that are the raw materials used for fabricating the absorbents of titanate nanofibres and nanotubes. Now with the knowledge to produce the adsorbents, we have the technology to do the cleaning up for the world," added Professor Zhu.


Source: QUT

Japan Earthquake 2011 Danger of Nuclear Disaster

Japan Earthquake 2011 Danger of Nuclear Disaster


Japan earthquake and tsunami: State of emergency after nuclear power plant crippled | Mail Online
Six-mile exclusion zone placed around crippled nuclear reactor as radiation hits 1,000 times safe level
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365333/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-State-emergency-nuclear-power-plant-crippled.html


NUKE PLANT: Japan PM Orders Wider Evacuation, As Radiation Levels Hit 1000X Normal
http://www.businessinsider.com/fukushima-nuclear-plant-2011-3


Japan Declares "Nuclear Emergency Situation" 11.03.11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GJ8zXchM58


Japan earthquake: Danger of nuclear disaster after Fukushima plant failure?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmjRG3m6Dw


Japanese officials admit partial nuclear meltdown now underway at nuke power plants
Sunday, March 13, 2011
http://www.naturalnews.com/031686_nuclear_meltdown_Japan.html


For those in Taiwan, China or other regions who are concerned about the possibility of radioactive fallout from Japan, be sure to read up on potassium iodide, which can prevent radioactive fallout from destroying your thyroid gland. Potassium iodide, however, does not "shield" your entire body from radiation. It merely prevents it from being concentrated in one place in your body.


Japan crisis 'worst since WWII'
12 March 2011 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12723092


Help support those devastated by the massive quake, tsunami in Japan
March 13, 2011
http://www.naturalnews.com/031685_tsunami_emergency_aid.html


Nuclear reactor meltdown narrowly averted at the Fukushima power plant near Tokyo
March 12, 2011
http://www.naturalnews.com/031680_nuclear_meltdown_Japan.html


Greenpeace: Japan nuke crisis could be 'devastating'
(AFP) March 12, 2011
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hnTbvh4BxZxn3erbR_tyIcYBF0SA?docId=CNG.3dd45eb241c8502e6bdf77a2885cc060.e51


Radioactive fallout from Fukushima approaching same levels as Chernobyl
http://www.naturalnews.com/031836_radioactive_fallout_Fukushima.html


Fukushima radioactive fallout nears Chernobyl levels
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20285-fukushima-radioactive-fallout-nears-chernobyl-levels.html


Ominous smoke plumes, contaminated water and food, neutron beams -- but everything is just fine in Japan, suggest authorities
http://www.naturalnews.com/031835_Fukushima_neutron_beams.html


Lethal in Japan - the real story on radiation
According to Dr. Katsuma Yagasaki, "DU dust-like particles can enter human bodies, and once taken into the body, they will become tens of millions times more hazardous. Newly released data indicate that low-level radiation is more likely to cause biochemical abnormalities than intensive high-level radiation. It is wrong to make light of the hazard of low-level radiation."
http://www.naturalnews.com/031823_Japan_radiation.html

China Daya Bay Nuclear Plant

China Daya Bay Nuclear Plant


China Nuclear Plant Workers Exposed to Radiation, South China Post Reports
By John Duce - Nov 16, 2010 7:44 AM GMT+0800
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-15/china-nuclear-plant-workers-exposed-to-radiation-south-china-post-reports.html


Daya Bay workers exposed to radiation Leak equivalent to two X-rays, plant boss says
Martin Wong and Cheung Chi-fai 
Nov 16, 2010
Workers at the Daya Bay nuclear power station were exposed to radiation equal to two chest X-rays after a flaw developed in a pipe carrying hot water from one of the station's two reactors....
http://www.ecfchina.com/news/43036.shtml
http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/china-nuclear-plant-workers-exposed-to-radiation-south-china-post-reports.html
http://ffggippsland.blogspot.com/2010/11/china-nuclear-plant-workers-exposed-to.html

Daya workers in radiation scare but CLP denies harm
Dennis Chong 
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=30&art_id=105003&sid=30313465&con_type=1