In an important step towards achieving sustainable development and preserving the environment, the Department of Sustainable Development at the Environmental Research Center organized a scientific symposium entitled “Removal of radioactive isotopes from polluted water using composite materials (carbon - zeolite)” on Monday, December 25, 2023, in the hall. Green in the Department of Communications Engineering. The lecture was given by Dr. Salam Khudair Abdullah Al-Nasiri, Director of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Directorate at the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission.

This event comes within cooperation between the Environmental Research Center and the Communications Engineering Department, and aims to transfer knowledge and awareness about the use of modern technologies in the field of removing radioactive contamination from water. Dr. Abbas Jawad Kazim, Head of the Sustainable Development Department, opened the session in which he stressed the importance of this activity as part of the department’s efforts to spread awareness of the sustainable development goals and their indicators.

In the introduction to the lecture, Dr. Salam Khudair Abdullah Al-Nasseri provided an overview of radioactive activities and their types, focusing on their effects and how to control them. Then, the talk discussed an innovative technology based on the use of the mineral substance “zeolite” as an ion exchanger, in addition to combining it with carbon to achieve an increase in surface area and enhance efficiency in removing radioactive pollutants from the water environment.

In the context of his study, Dr. Al-Nasseri shed light on the characteristics of the materials used and methods of mixing them, with a focus on the effectiveness of removing radioactive isotopes after using different materials in preparing carbon. The lecture was distinguished by presenting the results of detailed scientific studies on these technologies, which enriched the discussions and interactions among the attendees.

It should be noted that this symposium comes within the axis of environmental innovation and sustainable design, which is one of ten axes set by the Department of Sustainable Development as a goal to increase awareness and knowledge about it for this year 2023-2024.