Recovery of radioactive iodine from nuclear power plants using a microwave based plasma technique

In the event of a nuclear plant accident where the nuclear fuel has been damaged, radioactive iodine gaseous species can be released into the environment. Iodine is known to migrate well thus it is possible for the iodine to enter ocean plants nearby such as seaweed and kelp. A microwave generated plasma is used to elevate the energy of the iodine molecules found in kelp to the point where ionization can occur. The characteristics of the plasma …