Modified biosorbent wood-decay fungus Fomes fomentarius for pre-concentration of 137Cs in water samples

The biosorbent used in this study was prepared from wood-decay fungus Fomes fomentarius. The chemical modification of biosorbent with potassium–copper hexacyanoferrate (KCuHCF) for cesium sorption in aqueous solutions studies was used. It was found that the biosorbent has a high 137Cs absorbability in the wide range of pH, even in the solutions with high ionic strength. The developed method for 137Cs determination by using modified bio-sorbent was applied to various types of water delivered by the Water Research Institute in Bratislava. 137Cs was measured on HPGe detector and 137Cs activity was less than the minimum detectable activity (5mBq L−1). The tested modified bio-sorbent is suitable for pre-concentration of 137Cs from water.