Distribution and removal of radionuclides from contaminated medium: A review

The threat of radionuclide pollution to the environment has contributed to an increased interest in developing the most efficient soil and water treatment systems. To efficiently mitigate adverse radionuclides impacts and specify the most feasible treatment technology, it is vital to determine radionuclides geochemical behavior in the soil and water. The objective of this study is to summarize recent research attempts on the distribution and potential removal of radionuclides from contaminated medium. Primary attention was focused on the speciation and migration of radionuclides as well as on the physicochemical and biological treatment technologies. From the treatment methods considered, it is apparent that there is no single available solution for the efficient removal of radionuclides from soil and water, which is both economically and technologically feasible. The main problems are associated with the long removal time and high technological costs. Therefore, to overcome these disadvantages, it is necessary to combine several conventional and/or innovative technologies.