Fundamental study of cesium decontamination from soil by superconducting magnet

• The method for the soil decontamination by the superconducting magnet is proposed.
• Cesium ion can be absorbed by Prussian blue in potassium iodide wash fluid.
• It is possible to recover Cs+ ion-adsorbing Prussian blue with a high rate by HGMS.
• It is expected that HGMS can be applied to the actual soil decontamination.

The radioactive substances have been spread out all over the surrounding area of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant caused by the accident in March 2011. Decontamination and volume reduction of radioactive substances, especially cesium ion, are desired issue. This study proposed a decontamination method of the soil by the magnetic separation using superconducting magnet. Cesium ion was adsorbed by Prussian blue in the potassium iodide solution. We succeeded in separating selectively the cesium ion-adsorbed Prussian blue out of the liquid phase by high gradient magnetic separation. High recovery ratio of the Prussian blue was achieved by this method.