Radioactive Contamination on Land and Water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident

Nuclear energy provides an alternative solution for water and energy shortages. A focal problem for nuclear energy use is radioactive contamination. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released large amounts of radioactive substances into the environment and contaminated the soil of Tohoku and Kanto districts in Japan due to the deposition of radioactive cesium 137 from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. The main strategic key to removing any contaminants is to concentrate in a certain spatial spot. A summary of the most important radioactive contaminants due to the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and possible treatments. Tritium and radioactive cesium 137 are the most important contaminants. Radioactive cesium is accumulated primarily in the organic soil layer in forests and in natural water in lakes and streams, thereby making them potent sources for contaminating organisms. Removing radioactive cesium 137 from contaminated soil by removing 5 cm of soil depth as a primary treatment. secondary treatment for contanmanted soil by integrating electrolyte-cell methods to concentrate radioactive cesium in certain spots in the soil and remove only those spots. Tritium is accumulated in the cooling water of damaged Fukushima nuclear reactors. The negative effects of the presence of tritium in natural water are the main reason for this research on the separation of tritium from nuclear power plant water. In previous research studies, there were references to the separation of tritium by a thermal membrane process such as membrane distillation or pervaporation. This pervaporation process is based on experimental research. Main objective of describing thermodynamic analysis on the separation of tritium from ALPS-treated water as scientific evidence and on the separation of radioactive cesium, Cs137, for selecting the best method for the decontamination process.