Efficient radon removal using fluorine-functionalized natural zeolite

Jaeeun Kang, Bhupendra Kumar Singh, Wooyong Um

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106607

Received 7 December 2020; Received in revised form 22 January 2021; Accepted 20 March 2021

0265-931X/© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Radon (Rn) can easily leak into the environment through groundwater owing to its high water solubility.

Therefore, studying the chemical factors influencing the content and removal of Rn from groundwater is crucial

for the evaluation and mitigation of its radiological risks to public health. In this study, we conducted a

redundancy analysis (RDA) of Rn in groundwater and performed batch sorption experiments for efficient Rn

removal from the groundwater collected from Daejeon using natural zeolite (NZ) and fluorine-functionalized

natural zeolite (FFNZ) sorbents. The redundancy analysis revealed a positive correlation between the concentrations

of Rn and fluorine (F) in groundwater, indicating that F can support the long-term retention of Rn in

groundwater. NZ and FFNZ achieved ~40% and ~70% removal of Rn, respectively, following 24 h of treatment,

indicating a significant impact of F (in FFNZ) toward Rn removal from groundwater. Based on the results, Rn is

considered to interact with F through the van der Waals force, which limits the volatilization of Rn from the

solution. Similarly, the fluorine-functionalized sorbent would interact preferentially with Rn, thereby enhancing

its sorption and removal from groundwater.