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Title: Evaluation and testing of HUMASORB-CS{trademark} for the removal of radionuclides from groundwater

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/573165· OSTI ID:573165

An independent experiment to demonstrate the combined removal of the radionuclides, {sup 85}Sr and {sup 137}Cs from groundwater has been conducted with the sorbent, HUMASORB-CS. Arctech, Inc. manufactures this humic acid-based sorbent material. This sorbent material is reported to have potential for remediation of contaminated groundwater present at DOE sites. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the removal efficiency and the capacity of the sorbent. Two ion-exchange columns were assembled at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) to evaluate the sorbent technology. Initial {sup 137}Cs breakthrough in both columns was observed after 22.0 and 30.2 bed volumes, respectively. Strontium-85 removal was slightly more efficient than {sup 137}Cs removal. Initial {sup 85}Sr breakthrough in both columns was observed after 29.4 and 22.7 bed volumes, respectively. Calcium, which is of concern, is the major constituent within the feed solution. Calcium is attributed to loading interference in addition to other alkaline and alkaline earth metals such as stable Sr, Mg, Na, K, and Ba. Interfering ions fill exchange sites that greatly reduce the sorbents efficiency to sorb targeted ions such as radioactive Cs and Sr. Despite high concentrations of Ca in the feed solution, Ca was not sorbed by HUMASORB-CS. Results indicate HUMASORB-CS does not sorb sodium or potassium. Sodium and potassium concentrations were consistently observed at 100% breakthrough throughout the test.

Research Organization:
Lockheed Idaho Technologies Co., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-94ID13223
OSTI ID:
573165
Report Number(s):
INEEL/EXT-98-00100; ON: DE98052236; TRN: 98:009200
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jan 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English