A new way to remove radiation ?

February 28, 2012

METI to introduce equipment to remove most radioactive materials at Fukushima plant

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120228p2a00m0na007000c.html

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said on Feb. 27 that it would introduce equipment in the first half of next fiscal year that is capable of removing almost all kinds of radioactive substances from contaminated water piled up or stored on the premises of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

METI made the decision when it held a meeting to discuss medium- and long-term measures toward the decommissioning of the crippled Fukushima nuclear power station.

The work to purify water contaminated with high levels of radiation has so far been carried out mainly to remove cesium-137, which has a long half-life and constitutes a great risk to health. Under the plan for Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant, new equipment designed to have radioactive substances absorbed into activated charcoal to further reduce the levels of radiation will be introduced to remove not only cesium-137 but also other radioactive substances.

When 62 kinds of radioactive substances that measured more than one hundredth of the legal limit of radiation in contaminated water were tested, it was confirmed that the equipment was capable at present of removing 57 kinds of radioactive substances and reducing their levels of radiation below their detection limits.

The equipment will be used to remove and reduce the concentrations of radioactive substances contained in water below the legal limit for releasing it into the ocean, but METI said, "We will discuss with local governments, people and others whether to actually release it into the ocean."