Removal of Some Radionuclides from Water by Bioaccumulation

First objective of this study was to investigate the application of biologically activated carbon (BAC) as well as its comparison to adsorption, with the aim of removing some radionuclides from water. The isotopes Cs¹³⁴ and Cs¹³⁷ were bioaccumulated by BAC up to 50%, while the I¹³¹ isotope was only physicochemically adsorbed (about 40%). Also, the process of radionuclides (Cs¹³⁷, Ce¹³⁹, Co⁵⁷, Co⁶⁰) fixation on blue-green algae (Nostoc sp.) was investigated. The kinetics of the removal of these radionuclides from water was recorded. It was found that after a contact period of about half an hour 40-70% of the activity was removed.