Microbial copper reduction method to scavenge anthropogenic radioiodine.
Unexpected reactor accidents and radioisotope production and consumption have led to a continuous increase in the global-scale contamination of radionuclides. In particular, anthropogenic radioiodine has become critical due to its highly volatile mobilization and recycling in global environments, resulting in widespread, negative impact on nature. We report a novel biostimulant method to effectively scavenge radioiodine that exhibits remarkable selectivity for the highly difficult-to-capture radioiodine of >500-fold over other anions, even under circumneutral pH. We discovered a useful mechanism by which microbially reducible copper (i.e., Cu(2+) to Cu(+)) acts as a strong binder for iodide-iodide anions to form a crystalline halide salt of CuI that is highly insoluble in wastewater. The biocatalytic crystallization of radioiodine is a promising way to remove radioiodine in a great capacity with robust growth momentum, further ensuring its long-term stability through nuclear I(-) fixation via microcrystal formation.
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon 34057, South Korea.
Seung Yeop
SY
Lee
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon 34057, South Korea.
Ji Young
JY
Lee
Korean Association for Radiation Application (KARA), Seoul 04790, South Korea.
Je Ho
JH
Min
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon 34057, South Korea.
Seung Soo
SS
Kim
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), Daejeon 34057, South Korea.
Min Hoon
MH
Baik
Department of Earth &Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea.
Sang Yong
SY
Chung
Department of Earth &Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea.
Minhee
M
Lee
Department of Earth Sciences, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, South Korea.
Yongjae
Y
Lee