Removing Radiostrontium from Milk–Current Status of a Pilot Plant Process

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962 · Journal of Dairy Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(62)89493-4· OSTI ID:4736986

Edmondson, L. F.; Walter, H. E.; Sadler, A. M.; Hanrahan, F. P.; Easterly, D. G.; Harris, J. Y.; Keefer, D. H.; Landgrebe, A. R.

An interim report is presented on the present status of pilot plant research on the removal of strontium-90 from milk, a cooperative effort by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, and the Public Health Service of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare at the Beltsville Laboratory, and the Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center. The process is based on the ion-exchange principle. Milk contaminated with radiostrontium is passed through a bed of synthetic resin charged with a mixed solution of metallic ions which are present in milk. As the milk passes through the column, the stronium ions in the milk change places with the metallic ions on the resin. About 90% of the radioactive strontium can be removed. Cost of treatment and processing varies from 2 to 5 cents per quart, the efficiency of the process being closely related to the amount of milk that can be passed through a column before the column becomes exhausted. The process is summarized as to charging the resin bed, acidification of the milk, putting the milk through the column, neutralizing the milk, processing the treated milk, cleaning and sanitizing the resin, and regeneration of the resin. Experiments have been based on experimental use of milk obtained from a cow fed measured doses of radiostrontium. Work is now in progress at the Beltsville Laboratory to apply the techniques to the removal of environmental levels of strontium. (Public Heaith Engineering Abstracts, 42: No. 10, Oct. 1962).

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-008458
• OSTI ID: 4736986
• Journal Information: Journal of Dairy Science, Journal Name: Journal of Dairy Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 45; ISSN 0022-0302
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACIDITY
CATIONS
CATTLE
CONTAMINATION
DECONTAMINATION
ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENT
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FOOD
HEALTH AND SAFETY
ION EXCHANGE
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
MEASURED VALUES
MILK
MIXING
PERFORMANCE
RADIATION DOSES
RECOVERY
RESINS
SOLUTIONS
STRONTIUM 90