A research team led by Professor Kim Seong-gyun of the Department of Chemical Physics at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) said on the 16th that it developed a solar-powered artificial plant device that successfully and rapidly cleanses soil contaminated with radioactive cesium.
Radioactive cesium has a long half-life and dissolves well in water, making it likely to harm the human body. When cesium accumulates in muscles or bones, it can cause cancer or organ damage. In fact, after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, some Japanese vegetables and seafood were found to be "above the cesium threshold," leading to import suspensions or disposal.
The research team developed an artificial plant that cleanses soil contaminated with radioactive cesium. Until now, aside from scooping up soil and washing it, there was no clear alternative for soil contaminated with radioactive cesium. The newly developed artificial plant uses solar energy to rapidly absorb contaminated water and selectively accumulates only radioactive cesium in its leaves.
In experiments, the artificial plant reduced the concentration of cesium in soil by more than 95% within 20 days, the research team said. This dramatically shortened a cleansing process that used to take months or longer. The team noted, "Once cleansing is complete, the device can be reused continuously by replacing only the leaves where cesium has accumulated."
When the used leaves are rinsed with an acidic substance, the cesium is released again. The team said the cesium adsorbent can be reused multiple times, reducing expense and environmental burden. In addition, once the cesium is removed, the evaporated water is recovered through a collection system and returned to the soil.
Kim Seong-gyun said, "Radioactive cesium contamination causes far more serious problems in soil than in water, but until now there has been no clear treatment method," adding, "By simply installing a device that mimics natural plants on contaminated land, we showed the potential to cleanse using solar energy."
The study was published online in the international journal "Environmental Science & Technology" on Aug. 25.
References
Environmental Science & Technology (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c03657