New material removes radioactive risk
RALEIGH, N.C. (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say they can removeradioactive material from drinking water using a combination of forestbyproducts and crustacean shells.
Scientists at North Carolina State University say a material made froma combination of hemicellulose, a byproduct of forest materials, andchitosan, crustacean shells crushed into a powder, can absorb waterand then extract contaminates such as radioactive iodide from thewater.
"As we're currently seeing in Japan, one of the major health risksposed by nuclear accidents is radioactive iodide that dissolves intodrinking water," North Carolina State forest biomaterials ProfessorJoel Pawlak said.
"Because it is chemically identical to non-radioactive iodide, thehuman body cannot distinguish it -- which is what allows it toaccumulate in the thyroid and eventually lead to cancer.
"The material that we've developed binds iodide in water and traps it,which can then be properly disposed of without risk to humans or theenvironment."
The material, in the form of a solid foam, can also remove heavymetals such as arsenic from water or salt from sea water to make cleandrinking water, the researchers said.
"In disaster situations with limited-to-no power source, desalinatingdrinking water is difficult, if not impossible," Pawlak said. "Thisfoam could be brought along in such situations to clean the waterwithout the need for electricity."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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