arXiv · physics/0102029
Extraction of Cs-137 by alcohol-water solvents from plants containing cardiac glycosides
Abstract
As a result of nuclear power plant accidents, large areas receive radioactive inputs of Cs-137. This cesium accumulates in herbs growing in such territories. The problem is whether the herbs contaminated by radiocesium may be used as a raw material for medicine. The answer depends on the amount of Cs-137 transfered from the contaminated raw material to the medicine. We have presented new results of the transfer of Cs-137 from contaminated Digitalis grandiflora Mill. and Convallaria majalis L. to medicine. We found that the extraction of Cs-137 depends strongly on the hydrophilicity of the solvent. For example 96.5%(vol.) ethyl alcohol extracts less Cs-137 (11.6%) than 40%(vol.) ethyl alcohol or pure water (66.2%). The solubility of the cardiac glycosides is inverse to the solubility of cesium, which may be of use in the technological processes for manufacturing ecologically pure herbal medicine.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
S. N. Dzyubak, Yu. I. Gubin, O. P. Dzyubak, P. V. Sorokin, V. F. Popov, A. A. Orlov, V. P. Krasnov. 2001-02-11. Extraction of Cs-137 by alcohol-water solvents from plants containing cardiac glycosides. https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0102029
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.