*Article* **Strippable Polymeric Nanocomposites Comprising "Green" Chelates, for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides**

**Gabriela Toader 1,† , Daniela Pulpea 1,†, Traian Rotariu 1,\* , Aurel Diacon <sup>2</sup> , Edina Rusen 2,\* , Andreea Moldovan <sup>1</sup> , Alice Podaru 1, Raluca Ginghină 3, Florentina Alexe 3, Ovidiu Iorga 3, Sorina Aurora Bajenaru 3, Mihai Ungureanu 1, Florin Dîrloman <sup>1</sup> , Bogdan Pulpea <sup>1</sup> and Lucia Leonat <sup>4</sup>**


**Citation:** Toader, G.; Pulpea, D.; Rotariu, T.; Diacon, A.; Rusen, E.; Moldovan, A.; Podaru, A.; Ginghin ˘a, R.; Alexe, F.; Iorga, O.; et al. Strippable Polymeric Nanocomposites Comprising "Green" Chelates, for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides. *Polymers* **2021**, *13*, 4194. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/polym13234194

Academic Editor: Alexander B. Morgan

Received: 21 October 2021 Accepted: 26 November 2021 Published: 30 November 2021

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**Abstract:** The issue of heavy metal and radionuclide contamination is still causing a great deal of concern worldwide for environmental protection and industrial sites remediation. Various techniques have been developed for surface decontamination aiming for high decontamination factors (DF) and minimal environmental impact, but strippable polymeric nanocomposite coatings are some of the best candidates in this area. In this study, novel strippable coatings for heavy metal and radionuclides decontamination were developed based on the film-forming ability of polyvinyl alcohol, with the remarkable metal retention capacity of bentonite nanoclay, together with the chelating ability of sodium alginate and with "new-generation" "green" complexing agents: iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC). These environmentally friendly water-based decontamination solutions are capable of generating strippable polymeric films with optimized mechanical and thermal properties while exhibiting high decontamination efficiency (DF ≈ 95–98% for heavy metals tested on glass surface and DF <sup>≈</sup> 91–97% for radionuclides 241Am, 90Sr-Y and 137Cs on metal, painted metal, plastic, and glass surfaces).

**Keywords:** "green" chelates; complexing agents; nanocomposite; strippable coating; surface decontamination; heavy metal; radioactive material; radionuclide
