New ‘artificial plant’ uses solar power to clean radioactive soil

A research team at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology (DGIST) has developed a solar-powered artificial plant that can purify soil contaminated with radioactive cesium by over 95% within 20 days. This device mimics the natural transpiration process of plants, drawing contaminated water from the soil through a stem-like structure and capturing cesium ions in specialized adsorbent “leaves.” The purified water then evaporates and returns to the soil, eliminating the need for additional water or electricity. This innovation offers a practical, reusable, and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning radioactive soil, particularly in remote or accident-affected areas. Radioactive cesium, especially Cesium-137, poses long-term environmental and health risks due to its 30-year half-life and high solubility, which allows it to spread through ecosystems and accumulate in living organisms. Traditional soil decontamination methods, such as physically removing soil or using natural plants for absorption, are slow, costly,