| Apr 28, 2026 |
A MOF-based nanocomposite for removing and detecting radioactive iodine, supporting nuclear wastewater treatment and environmental cleanup of long-lived isotopes.
(Nanowerk News) Researchers from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a silver-decorated, metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived TiO2-x nanocomposite enriched with oxygen vacancies, enabling both the removal and detection of trace radioactive iodide ions.
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Their findings were published in Separation and Purification Technology (“Efficient elimination and naked-eye detection of trace radioactive iodide by silver-decorated oxygen vacancy-rich TiO2-x derived from MIL-125″).
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Radioactive iodine is highly soluble in water, posing risks to public health and the environment. Existing materials for iodine treatment often face drawbacks such as easy oxidation and aggregation of silver nanoparticles, limited adsorption capacity, and dependence on bulky instruments for detection. These limitations hinder effective treatment of radioactive wastewater and rapid on-site monitoring.
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In this study, the researchers used a titanium-based metal–organic framework, MIL-125, as a precursor to construct a multifunctional Ag2O–Ag@TiO2-x (AT) nanocomposite.
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| Adsorption and detection mechanism of radioactive iodide ions by AT nanocomposites. (Image: CHEN Kaiwen)
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Through a controlled pyrolysis and solution deposition strategy, the material was engineered with dual active sites of Ag0 and Ag2O. The resulting structure integrates oxygen vacancies with an Ag/TiO2-x Schottky junction, forming a synergistic system that enables iodide capture via a coupled photocatalytic oxidation and chemisorption mechanism.
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Experimental results show that the nanocomposite delivers effective iodine adsorption and maintains stable removal performance even at low iodide concentrations. The treated water meets national surface water environmental standards.
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The material also exhibits iodoperoxidase-like activity, enabling a colorimetric sensing system based on AT/TMB/H2O2 for visual detection of iodide ions. The system shows good resistance to interference from common anions and performs reliably in complex water environments, including seawater and nuclear wastewater.
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The material also shows good stability under irradiation. After exposure to γ-rays, it retains most of its adsorption performance, while the concentration of leached silver remains below national safety limits.
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This study provides a practical approach for the removal and detection of radioactive iodine. It may support wastewater treatment in nuclear facilities and environmental remediation, particularly for long-lived isotopes such as iodine-129, which are commonly associated with nuclear power generation, spent fuel reprocessing, and nuclear accidents.
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