A freshwater algae capable of sequestering the element strontium may someday assist in the clean-up of nuclear waste, according to scientists at Northwestern University and the Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago. In lab tests, Closterium moniliferum, a bright green denizen of pond water, soaked up non-radioactive isotopes of strontium--the hope is that the same effect will occur when the algae are introduced to radioactive (and highly toxic) strontium 90.
Chemically similar to calcium, strontium 90 is often responsible for bone cancer in areas afflicted by nuclear fallout, and is difficult to weed out from nuclear waste. In the United States alone, strontium 90 permeates almost 80 million gallons of stored nuclear sludge. Scientists are optimistic that the algae, if successful in the presence of strontium 90, will aid in either the remediation of nuclear waste, clean-up after a spill, or in the waste disposal process.
Photo Credits:
Northwestern University | Flickr | Flickr
Chemical-Cleaning Algae
Detoxifying Nuclear Waste and Strontium 90 with Algae
Trend Themes
1. Algae-based Nuclear Waste Remediation - The use of freshwater algae to sequester strontium and aid in the clean-up of nuclear waste presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the environmental remediation industry.
2. Biochemical Solutions for Radioactive Contamination - The discovery of Closterium moniliferum's ability to absorb strontium 90 offers a potential disruptive innovation opportunity for the nuclear power industry to develop more effective waste disposal methods.
3. Algae as a Sustainable Solution - The application of algae in the detoxification of radioactive strontium provides a disruptive innovation opportunity for the renewable energy industry to advance towards cleaner and safer solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Environmental Remediation - The use of algae to clean up nuclear waste can disrupt traditional methods of environmental remediation by offering a more sustainable and efficient solution.
2. Nuclear Power - The discovery of algae's ability to remove strontium 90 from nuclear waste poses an opportunity for the nuclear power industry to find innovative ways to manage and dispose of radioactive materials.
3. Renewable Energy - The application of algae in nuclear waste detoxification presents an opportunity for the renewable energy industry to explore alternative methods for generating clean energy and managing radioactive materials.