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Title: Economical removal of radium from groundwater by a regenerable sand filter and other adsorbents

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5350257

Research was undertaken to determine what parameters control the adsorption of radium from groundwater by sand, and what methods are available to inexpensively regenerate the sand. In addition, the abilities of other materials to adsorb radium were explored. This work was done with pilot filter plants in the laboratory and at Oxford, Iowa. The results of this research reveal that it should be possible to design a sand filtration systems which will remove radium from groundwater. The pilot filter plants were able to remove 90% of the influent radium from solution, and it was found that a pH 1 acid rinse will regenerate the sand's ability to remove radium; weaker acids were found to be as effective, at a lesser cost. The process economics show the chemical costs to be low, on the order of $0.10/thousand gallons of production, which is considerably less than the cost of existing treatment alternatives.

Research Organization:
Iowa Univ., Iowa City (USA)
OSTI ID:
5350257
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English