日本ゼオライト学会　刊行物 Publication of Japan Zeolite Association

Radioactive cesium-137, which has a long half-life time and was released into the environment following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. It is strongly adsorbed onto clay minerals in the soil, such as weathered biotite, and is stably retained. The volume of such soil is enormous, therefore, it is necessary to promote volume reduction and recycling, and to reduce the amount requiring final disposal. To reduce the volume of material requiring final disposal, it is necessary to remove and concentrate the radioactive cesium contained in the soil. This article outlines the molten salt/acid treatment and zeolite treatment methods, which the authors have been promoting, for the removal of radioactive cesium in the soil of Fukushima Prefecture, and introduces on the cesium removal and immobilization methods of the mordenite and pollucite used in the zeolite treatment.