Kinetic study of 131I extraction using oil palm kernel shell activated carbon for clinical nuclear waste management

Abstract

Nuclear medicine is one of the facilities that provide diagnostic and treatment services to patients using radioactive materials. The use of liquid radioactive materials like 131I increases the radiological hazard to staff and patients, either by spillage or poor management of clinical wastewater. Hence, proper, reliable, economical, and safe contamination management of radioactive materials is an important aspect to be considered for routine radiation protection practice in hospitals. This study proposed a new technique for radioactive contamination management using oil palm kernel shell activated carbon (OPKSAC). Pure 131I from the laboratory was mixed with different concentrations of OPKSAC. The mixture was filtered to obtain sediment and water residue. A kinetic radioactivity study was conducted using a dose calibrator on the sediment and water residue by varying the activated carbon concentrations. The measurement was repeated on the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th day of radionuclide decay. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to analyze the morphology and elemental analysis of the sediment obtained after filtration for 350 mg/mL concentration. The OPKSAC has a high potential to accelerate the decay of 131I by agglomeration and solidify the radionuclide. The results from FESEM and EDX analysis show the morphology structure of agglomeration between 131I on the activated carbon surface, where the presence of Na element proved the reaction of the radioactive solution used in this experiment.