Cesium removal in freshwater using potassium cobalt hexacyanoferrate-impregnated fibers

Potassium cobalt hexacyanoferrate compounds (KCo-HCFe's) were impregnated onto a 6-nylon fiber by radiation-induced graft polymerization and subsequent chemical modifications. First, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate was graft-polymerized onto the nylon fiber. Second, hexacyanoferrate ions were bound to graft chains via an anion-exchange interaction. Third, KCo-HCFe's were formed on the nylon fiber via the precipitation reaction of hexacyanoferrate ions with cobalt ions in the presence of potassium chloride. The resulting KCo-HCFe-impregnated fiber had an impregnation percentage of the fiber for KCo-HCFe's of 7%. The cesium concentration in 10. ppm cesium chloride solution with the immersion of this fiber decreased to 0.6. ppm within 60. min at a ratio of liquid volume (10. mL) to fiber mass (0.1. g). The fiber was fabricated into a braid with a length of 100. cm and a diameter of 8. cm for practical use at sites contaminated with cesium.