Researchers developed a Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) to separate tritium from water

A research team in China has developed a Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-coated stainless-steel mesh capable of efficiently separating tritium from water.

• The material rapidly exchanges tritium atoms with ordinary hydrogen atoms, making it significantly more effective than conventional commercial separation technologies.
• The development could provide a more efficient solution for treating tritiated water generated by nuclear power plants.

Background: Fukushima Wastewater

• In 2023, Japan began the gradual release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.
• Although the water was treated to remove most radioactive contaminants, tritium remained because it is extremely difficult to separate from water.
• As tritiated water (HTO) is chemically almost identical to ordinary water, the nuclear industry has traditionally managed it by diluting it with large volumes of water before release.

About Tritium

• Tritium (³H or T) is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.
• Like ordinary hydrogen, it has one proton and one electron.
• However, unlike ordinary hydrogen, tritium contains two neutrons, making it unstable and radioactive.
• Tritium occurs:
  • Naturally, through interactions between cosmic rays and atmospheric gases.
  • Artificially, as a by-product of nuclear reactors and other nuclear processes.
• Tritium undergoes radioactive decay, emitting beta radiation.
• Tritium is used in glow-in-the-dark lighting, including exit signs, emergency lighting and airport runway lights. It is also used in biomedical research as a radioactive tracer for studying diseases such as Heart disease, Cancer, AIDS.

Health Effects

• Tritium emits low-energy beta radiation, which cannot penetrate human skin.
• However, if tritiated water is inhaled, ingested, or absorbed in large quantities, the radiation can expose internal tissues and increase the long-term risk of cancer.
• Consequently, safe handling and effective treatment of tritiated water remain important aspects of nuclear safety and environmental protection.

Source: TH,

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