UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that its advanced adsorbent materials have successfully been used to clean nearly 100 million gal of radiation-contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.
Honeywell's UOP IONSIV Selective Media adsorbents have been used by Toshiba Corp. and Shaw Global Services LLC as part of the Simplified Active Water Retrieve and Recovery System (SARRY), which is being used to treat wastewater that was contaminated after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March 2011. Honeywell's UOP material has been used in the system since August 2011 and has reduced cesium to below detectable levels.
"Our products were chosen for their superior ability to remove large amounts of radioactive materials, including cesium from seawater, which is challenging. So far, our products' performance has exceeded expectations," said Mike Millard, vice president and general manager of Honeywell's UOP Catalysts, Adsorbents and Specialties business unit. "UOP is proud of the contribution our IONSIV adsorbents have made toward reducing the radiation risk in Japan and helping the area recover from this devastating event. We are committed to partnering with those on-site to continue removing radioactive contaminants from all water sources."
Honeywell's UOP IONSIV Selective Media adsorbents are crystalline materials designed to selectively remove radioactive ions, particularly cesium and strontium, from liquids. Previous generations of these products have been used commercially for more than 30 years to treat radioactive waste streams in commercial nuclear power plants, alkaline tank waste and spent fuel storage pool water. Honeywell's UOP R9120-B adsorbent and its UOP R9160-G adsorbent were used in the cleanup efforts at the plant.
The SARRY system, developed by Toshiba, Shaw and AVANTech Inc., has operated problem-free at the plant since its installation. Cleanup efforts are still under way and IONSIV adsorbents are expected to remain in use for the next 10 years to remove cesium and strontium from various contaminated water sources at Fukushima.
Source: Honeywell
