Application of Clay Materials for Sorption of Radionuclides from Waste Solutions

Abstract

The wide application of nuclear resources in various fields has resulted in the production of radioactive waste, which poses a serious threat to lives and the environment. Nuclear waste contains long-lived radionuclides and, due to its mobility in environments, the proper management of generated waste is necessary. To impede the mobility of radionuclides in environments, various materials have been tested as suitable sorbents under different experimental conditions. In this review, we thoroughly discuss some key and recent contributions to the application of natural clays (NCs) and modified/functionalized clays (MCs) for the sorption of various radionuclides in their cationic and anion forms from (simulated) waste solutions under different experimental conditions. More specifically, we discuss the key developments toward the use of natural clays for the efficient sorption of various radioactive contaminates. Later, this review targets the modification/functionalization of natural clays using various organic moieties to improve their removal capacities for various radionuclides/hazardous ions present in waste solutions. Finally, we summarize the major aspects and highlight the key challenges to be addressed in future studies to further enhance the application of clays and clay-based materials for selective and effective removal of various radionuclides from waste solutions.

MXenes vs. clays: emerging and traditional 2D layered nanoarchitectonics

“…[55][56][57][58][59] Applications related to food, human and animal health are possible due to the biocompatible character of clay minerals, which have been extensively used for medicinal purposes since prehistoric times. [60][61][62] Fibrous clay minerals such as sepiolite could also be disaggregated in water by the application of high-speed shear forces or sonomechanical • MXenes-TiO 2 for photocatalysis 24,81,82 • Uptake of heavy and radioactive metal ions using nanoscale modified clay minerals 72,73 • MXene-nanocomposites for heavy metal and radionucleid removal 83,84 • Magnetic adsorbents based on ferrofluid infiltration 74 • MXenes-magnetite with enhanced photothermal activity 85 and radionucleid removal 86 • Clay-based bionanocomposites for oil-spill remediation 75 • MXene-based membranes and sponges for oilspills 87,88 • Wastewater and sewage treatments involving agricultural, urban and industrial wastewater treatments [76][77][78][79] • MXene-based nanoarchitectures for wastewater disposal 89,90 • Membranes, ionic and electronic conductors and sensor devices…”

Aluminosilicate Clay Minerals: Kaolin, Bentonite, and Halloysite as Fuel Additives for Thermal Conversion of Biomass and Waste

“…They are commonly used as feedstock for the ceramic, chemical, and paper industries [44]. Due to their predisposition for high adsorption, they can be used as sorbents for petrochemicals, as catalysts, in cosmetics, or as dietary supplements for cattle [45,46] Their latest application paths are composite materials [47] and biomedicine [48,49]. Aluminosilicates are suitable for diverse industrial applications, presented in Figure 2.…”

Recent progress in high-performance environmental impacts of the removal of radionuclides from wastewater based on metal–organic frameworks: a review

“…Many types of adsorbents have been used for the removal of contaminants from waste, such as coal, wood-activated carbon, bone chars, resins, zeolites, and clays. [80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89] Adsorption takes place when the adsorbate (solid) has a signicant affinity for the adsorbent surface as compared to its solution. The chemical properties of the adsorbent and its compositional properties are essential in determining the nature of the interaction between the adsorbate and the adsorbent surface.…”