Scientists in South Korea, using artificial intelligence, have developed a sorbent that captures over 90% of radioactive iodine-129, a hazardous nuclear waste isotope with a half-life of 15.7 million years. The new material, based on copper, chromium, iron, and aluminum (Cu₃(CrFeAl)), effectively absorbs iodate (IO₃⁻), outperforming traditional cleanup methods.
AI accelerated the development by analyzing 24 binary and 96 ternary metal combinations—just 16% of possible variants—allowing researchers to quickly identify the optimal composition. This slashed the time and resources needed to create the sorbent.
The team continues to improve the material’s stability and develop filters for cleaning contaminated water. The technology has been patented in South Korea, with an international patent application under review, opening prospects for its global use in nuclear safety.
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