Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for removing cesium in a clay mineral, comprising:(a) mixing a cesium-contaminated clay mineral with hydrogen peroxide to induce interlayer expansion;(b) desorbing the cesium from the clay mineral by contacting the clay mineral with an ion-exchangeable cation; and(c) separating the desorbed cesium from the clay mineral. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the clay mineral in step (a) includes a clay mineral having a 2:1 layered structure. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the clay mineral in step (a) includes one or more selected from the group consisting of hydrobiotite, a smectite-based mineral, vermiculite, a mica-based mineral, and illite. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the smectite-based mineral includes one or more selected from the group consisting of montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, hectorite, and sauconite. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the mica-based mineral includes one or more selected from the group consisting of biotite, muscovite, phlogopite, and lepidolite. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen peroxide in step (a) is added as a 30 to 50% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cation in step (b) includes a divalent cation. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the divalent cation is one or more selected from the group consisting of a magnesium ion, a calcium ion, and a barium ion. 9. A method for removing cesium in a clay mineral, comprising:(a) mixing a cesium-contaminated clay mineral with hydrogen peroxide to induce interlayer expansion;(b) desorbing the cesium from the clay mineral by mixing the clay mineral with an ion-exchangeable cation; and(c) separating the desorbed cesium from the clay mineral.