WO2009129184A1 - Radium removal and disposal - Google Patents
Radium removal and disposal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009129184A1 WO2009129184A1 PCT/US2009/040372 US2009040372W WO2009129184A1 WO 2009129184 A1 WO2009129184 A1 WO 2009129184A1 US 2009040372 W US2009040372 W US 2009040372W WO 2009129184 A1 WO2009129184 A1 WO 2009129184A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- radium
- cation exchange
- strong acid
- exchange resin
- acid cation
- Prior art date
Links
- 229910052705 radium Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 122
- HCWPIIXVSYCSAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N radium atom Chemical compound [Ra] HCWPIIXVSYCSAN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 122
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 66
- NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-bis(ethenyl)benzene;1-ethenyl-2-ethylbenzene;styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1.CCC1=CC=CC=C1C=C.C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C NWUYHJFMYQTDRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 62
- 239000003729 cation exchange resin Substances 0.000 claims description 62
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 45
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 claims description 25
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Styrene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1 PPBRXRYQALVLMV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N iron Substances [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- -1 iron ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 3
- BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M sulfonate Chemical compound [O-]S(=O)=O BDHFUVZGWQCTTF-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003651 drinking water Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 235000012206 bottled water Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 4
- 235000020188 drinking water Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920001467 poly(styrenesulfonates) Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- MYRTYDVEIRVNKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1,2-Divinylbenzene Chemical compound C=CC1=CC=CC=C1C=C MYRTYDVEIRVNKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000011956 best available technology Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- AMWRITDGCCNYAT-UHFFFAOYSA-L hydroxy(oxo)manganese;manganese Chemical compound [Mn].O[Mn]=O.O[Mn]=O AMWRITDGCCNYAT-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002952 polymeric resin Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000008733 Citrus aurantifolia Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 206010028980 Neoplasm Diseases 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Sulfate Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 235000011941 Tilia x europaea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium atom Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 201000011510 cancer Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229940023913 cation exchange resins Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000002384 drinking water standard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005342 ion exchange Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003456 ion exchange resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003303 ion-exchange polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004571 lime Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005990 polystyrene resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000005180 public health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001223 reverse osmosis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 125000000542 sulfonic acid group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000011282 treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/42—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F1/00—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
- C02F1/42—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange
- C02F2001/425—Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by ion-exchange using cation exchangers
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
- C02F2101/00—Nature of the contaminant
- C02F2101/006—Radioactive compounds
Definitions
- This invention relates to the removal and disposal of radium present in potable water sources.
- Radioactive contaminants Radium is one of these radionucleotides. Much of this contamination is naturally occurring. In most cases these radionucleotide contaminants are at levels that are low enough to not be considered a health concern. At higher levels radionucleotides in drinking water may cause cancer.
- DOWEX RSC barium sulfate-doped styrene resin.
- RSC sodium Selective Complexer
- This resin is not regenerable and in some settings needs a significant level of sulfate, such as up to about 30 parts per million, in the water being treated to have a long resin life.
- use of DOW RSC is incompatible with low pH water sources such as water sources at pH 5.5 or lower. As with many resins, iron contamination in the water supplies can shorten the effective resin life.
- DOWEX RSC resin is relatively expensive and thus is commonly operated for long periods. This long run cycle leads to the accumulation of large enough amounts of radium on the resin that when it is removed from service it must be treated as a hazardous radioactive material and thus must be discarded into a "low level radioactive material disposal" site. The cost of such disposal is very high, currently at least $225 per Ib. This is as much or more than the cost of the fresh resin itself. This leads to a non economic operation.
- this invention relates to a process for removing radium from radium-contaminated water, which process comprises:
- This process of the invention contacting radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium exchanging conditions. This contacting is carried out in a contacting zone. This contacting results in the formation of a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin.
- This contacting is continued as additional radium-contaminated water is brought into contact with the radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin. This gives rise to the formation of additional reduced radium content water and an enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin.
- the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin approaches but does not exceed 200 pCi/g. At this point the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is recovered from the contacting zone.
- the recovered enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin having a radium content approaching but not exceeding 200 pCi/g is then admixed and encapsulated with mineral-based material and formed into solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin.
- strong acid cation exchange resins refer to polymeric resins having acid groups with a pka of less than 4, preferably less than 3, more preferably less than 2 and most preferably less than 1, attached thereto, wherein the acid group is neutralized to an acid metal salt such as an alkali or alkaline metal salt.
- Preferred salts include sodium, potassium, calcium and the like.
- Preferred polymeric resins include polystyrene resin and preferred acid groups include sulfonic acid groups.
- Preferred resins are highly crosslinked, macroporous strong acid cation exchange resin based on sulfonated polystyrene, crosslinked with divinylbenzene and are available from Resintech, West Berlin, NJ, USA under the tradename SACMP.
- this invention relates to a process comprising
- the strong acid cation exchange resin is a macroreticular resin.
- the macroreticular resin is a styrene -based resin.
- the styrene-based macroreticular resin is a sulfonate-containing cross-linked resin.
- the mineral-based material comprises clay.
- the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 100 pCi/g. In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 150 pCi/g. In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 180 pCi/g.
- the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 190 pCi/g. In all cases, the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin does not exceed 200 pCi/g.
- the encapsulating causes substantially all enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral- based material and forms solid bodies.
- a greater than about 60% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In some embodiments, a greater than about 80% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in the mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In some embodiments, a greater than about 90% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In some embodiments, a greater than about 95% of the enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in the mineral-based material and forms solid bodies.
- the encapsulating comprises dewatering the mineral-based material after admixing.
- the radium-contaminated water has a pH of about or below 5.5. In some embodiments, the radium-contaminated water has a pH of about 5.5.
- the radium-contaminated water additionally comprises iron ions.
- the invention provides a process comprising:
- a strong acid cation exchange resin such as SACMP from Resintech, West Berlin, New Jersey, U.S.A
- the radium- contaminated water is allowed to flow through the vessel comprising the resin under radium-exchanging conditions at a flow rate of 10-12 gallons per minute per square foot of vessel cross-sectional area under ambient conditions.
- the water effluent from the contacting zone preferably has a reduce radium level of less than 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The process is continued until the radium absorbed by the resin reaches a concentration of 200 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) of resin.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
The disclosed invention relates to the removal and disposal of radium present in potable water sources.
Description
RADIUM REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to the removal and disposal of radium present in potable water sources.
Background and State of the Art
[0002] Most drinking water sources have very low levels of radioactive contaminants ("radionucleotides"). Radium is one of these radionucleotides. Much of this contamination is naturally occurring. In most cases these radionucleotide contaminants are at levels that are low enough to not be considered a health concern. At higher levels radionucleotides in drinking water may cause cancer.
[0003] To protect public health, the EPA has established a drinking water standard for radium. This standard (5 pCi/L) is expressed in terms of the picoCuries of radiation given off by the radium present per liter of drinking water. A range of water sources have been found to exceed this action level. Either the radium levels are reduced to below this level or the water source can not be used as potable water.
[0004] A number of processes have been proposed or implemented to remove radium from water and thus to reduce the level to below 5 pCi/L. The USEPA has classified a variety of water softening treatments as Best Available Technologies ("BAT's"). These have included lime softening, ion exchange and reverse osmosis. As a general rule, technologies which remove magnesium and calcium during water softening also remove radium. Absorption of radium onto hydrous manganese oxide ("HMO") is also promoted as a way to remove radium from drinking water.
[0005] Dow markets a special ion exchange resin product under the tradename DOWEX RSC, where "RSC" is an abbreviation for "Radium Selective Complexer". This is a barium sulfate-doped styrene resin. As its name suggests, DOW RSC selectively removes radium and leaves calcium, magnesium and other hardness ions in the water. This resin is not regenerable and in some settings needs a significant level of sulfate, such as up to about 30
parts per million, in the water being treated to have a long resin life. In addition, use of DOW RSC is incompatible with low pH water sources such as water sources at pH 5.5 or lower. As with many resins, iron contamination in the water supplies can shorten the effective resin life.
[0006] The DOWEX RSC resin is relatively expensive and thus is commonly operated for long periods. This long run cycle leads to the accumulation of large enough amounts of radium on the resin that when it is removed from service it must be treated as a hazardous radioactive material and thus must be discarded into a "low level radioactive material disposal" site. The cost of such disposal is very high, currently at least $225 per Ib. This is as much or more than the cost of the fresh resin itself. This leads to a non economic operation.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] A new process for removing radium from a radium-contaminated water source intended for use as potable water has now been found. In one aspect, this invention relates to a process for removing radium from radium-contaminated water, which process comprises:
in a contacting zone contacting the radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin;
continuing to contact additional radium-contaminated water with the radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming additional reduced radium content water and an enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin, until the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin approaches but does not exceed 200 pCi/g; halting the contacting of radiation-contaminated water with the enhanced radium content radium containing strong acid cation exchange resin;
recovering the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin having a radium content approaching but not exceeding 200 pCi/g from the contacting zone; admixing and encapsulating the recovered enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin with mineral-based material and forming solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; and disposing of the solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin in a land fill. [0008] This and other embodiments are further described in the text that follows.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0009] This process of the invention contacting radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium exchanging conditions. This contacting is carried out in a contacting zone. This contacting results in the formation of a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin.
[0010] This contacting is continued as additional radium-contaminated water is brought into contact with the radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin. This gives rise to the formation of additional reduced radium content water and an enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin. The contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin approaches but does not exceed 200 pCi/g. At this point the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is recovered from the contacting zone.
[0011] The recovered enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin having a radium content approaching but not exceeding 200 pCi/g is then admixed and encapsulated with mineral-based material and formed into solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin.
[0012] These solid bodies are disposed of in a land fill.
[0013] As used herein, the term "strong acid cation exchange resins" refer to polymeric resins having acid groups with a pka of less than 4, preferably less than 3, more preferably less than 2 and most preferably less than 1, attached thereto, wherein the acid group is neutralized to an acid metal salt such as an alkali or alkaline metal salt. Preferred salts include sodium, potassium, calcium and the like. Preferred polymeric resins include polystyrene resin and preferred acid groups include sulfonic acid groups. Preferred resins are highly crosslinked, macroporous strong acid cation exchange resin based on sulfonated polystyrene, crosslinked with divinylbenzene and are available from Resintech, West Berlin, NJ, USA under the tradename SACMP.
[0014] Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention relates to a process comprising
in a contacting zone contacting the radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; continuing to contact additional radium-contaminated water with the radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming additional reduced radium content water and an enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin, until the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin approaches but does not exceed 200 pCi/g; halting the contacting of radiation-contaminated water with the enhanced radium content radium containing strong acid cation exchange resin; recovering the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin having a radium content approaching but not exceeding 200 pCi/g from the contacting zone; admixing and encapsulating the recovered enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin with mineral-based material and forming solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; and disposing of the solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin in a land fill.
[0015] In some embodiments, the strong acid cation exchange resin is present in the contacting zone as a bed and wherein the radium-exchanging conditions include flow contact of the radium-contaminated water with the resin bed.
[0016] In some embodiments, the strong acid cation exchange resin is a macroreticular resin. In some embodiments, the macroreticular resin is a styrene -based resin. In some embodiments, the styrene-based macroreticular resin is a sulfonate-containing cross-linked resin.
[0017] In some embodiments, the mineral-based material comprises clay.
[0018] In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 100 pCi/g. In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 150 pCi/g. In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 180 pCi/g. In some embodiments, the contacting is stopped when the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is greater than about 190 pCi/g. In all cases, the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin does not exceed 200 pCi/g.
[0019] In some embodiments, the encapsulating causes substantially all enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral- based material and forms solid bodies.
[0020] In some embodiments, a greater than about 60% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In some embodiments, a greater than about 80% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in the mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In some embodiments, a greater than about 90% of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in mineral-based material and forms solid bodies. In
some embodiments, a greater than about 95% of the enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin is encapsulated in the mineral-based material and forms solid bodies.
[0021] In some embodiments, the encapsulating comprises dewatering the mineral-based material after admixing.
[0022] In some embodiments, the radium-contaminated water has a pH of about or below 5.5. In some embodiments, the radium-contaminated water has a pH of about 5.5.
[0023] In some embodiments, the radium-contaminated water additionally comprises iron ions.
[0024] In another embodiment, the invention provides a process comprising:
contacting the radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; halting the contacting of radiation-contaminated water with the radium containing strong acid cation exchange resin; recovering the radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; encapsulating the recovered radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin with mineral-based material and forming solid bodies of encapsulated radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin; wherein the solid bodies are safe for being disposed in a land fill.
Example
[0025] The following example is provided to illustrate certain aspects of the present invention and to aid those of skill in the art in practicing the invention. The example is in no way to be considered to limit the scope of the invention.
[0026] In this example, a strong acid cation exchange resin such as SACMP from Resintech, West Berlin, New Jersey, U.S.A, is placed in a vessel. The radium- contaminated water is allowed to flow through the vessel comprising the resin under radium-exchanging conditions at a flow rate of 10-12 gallons per minute per square foot of
vessel cross-sectional area under ambient conditions. The water effluent from the contacting zone preferably has a reduce radium level of less than 5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The process is continued until the radium absorbed by the resin reaches a concentration of 200 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) of resin.
[0027] The water flow is then halted and the radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin is recovered from the vessel. The discarded resin is encapsulated into a clay molding suitable for retaining the radium in situ without leaching. The clay molding is then placed in a suitable landfill.
Claims
1. A process for removing radium from radium-contaminated water comprising:
in a contacting zone contacting the radium-contaminated water with a strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming a reduced radium content water and a radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin; continuing to contact additional radium-contaminated water with the radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin under radium-exchanging conditions thereby forming additional reduced radium content water and an enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin, until the radium content of the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin approaches but does not exceed 200 pCi/g; halting the contacting of radiation-contaminated water with the enhanced radium content radium containing strong acid cation exchange resin; recovering the enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin having a radium content approaching but not exceeding 200 pCi/g from the contacting zone; admixing and encapsulating the recovered enhanced radium content radium- containing strong acid cation exchange resin with mineral-based material which forms a solid body comprising encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin wherein said radium does not leach form the solid body under storage conditions; and disposing of the solid bodies of encapsulated enhanced radium content radium-containing strong acid cation exchange resin in a land fill.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the strong acid cation exchange resin is present in the contacting zone as a bed and wherein the radium-exchanging conditions include flow contact of the radium-contaminated water with the resin bed.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein the strong acid cation exchange resin is a macroreticular resin.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein the macroreticular resin is a styrene -based resin.
5. The process of claim 4 wherein the styrene-based macroreticular resin is a sulfonate-containing cross-linked resin.
6. The process of claim 1 wherein the mineral-based material comprises clay.
7. The process of claim 6 wherein the encapsulating comprises dewatering the mineral-based material after admixing.
8. The process of claim 1 wherein the radium-contaminated water has a pH of about
5.5.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein the radium-contaminated water additionally comprises iron ions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US4634908P | 2008-04-18 | 2008-04-18 | |
| US61/046,349 | 2008-04-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2009129184A1 true WO2009129184A1 (en) | 2009-10-22 |
Family
ID=41199438
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2009/040372 WO2009129184A1 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2009-04-13 | Radium removal and disposal |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2009129184A1 (en) |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4800024A (en) * | 1986-04-07 | 1989-01-24 | Iso-Clear Systems Corporation | Removal of heavy metals and heavy metal radioactive isotopes from liquids |
-
2009
- 2009-04-13 WO PCT/US2009/040372 patent/WO2009129184A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4800024A (en) * | 1986-04-07 | 1989-01-24 | Iso-Clear Systems Corporation | Removal of heavy metals and heavy metal radioactive isotopes from liquids |
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