Supergel System Cleans Radioactively Contaminated Structures

摘要

Asystem was developed that can remove radioactive cesium contamination from porous structures such as brick and concrete that are hard to clean, as well as contamination from metal surfaces. The Supergel system focuses on rapid response, capturing as much of the contamination as possible, as quickly as possible, and filling a technology gap immediately. The system consists of engineered nanoparticles and a super-absorbent polymer gel that work together to clean structures exposed to radioactive materials. The polymer Supergel that absorbs the radioactivity is similar to the absorbent material found in disposable diapers. When exposed to a wetting agent, the polymers form a kind of structural "scaffold" that allows the gel to absorb great amounts of liquid. The amount of contamination removed depends on the characteristics of the contaminated structure — its age, type of material, and whether painted or un-painted — and the radioactive isotope involved. Removal rates have ranged from roughly 80 to nearly 100 percent.