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REMOVAL OF RADIUM FROM DRINKING WATER
Citation:
Lauch*, R P. REMOVAL OF RADIUM FROM DRINKING WATER. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-92/164 (NTIS 92-218320), 1992.
Impact/Purpose:
Information.
Description:
This report summarizes processes for removal of radium from drinking water. Ion exchange, including strong acid and weak acid resin, is discussed. Both processes remove better than 95 percent of the radium from the water. Weak acid ion exchange does not add sodium to the water. Calcium cation exchange removes radium and can be used when hardness removal is not necessary. Iron removal processes are discussed in relation to redium removal. Iron oxides remove much less than 20 percent of the radium from water under typical conditions. Manganese dioxide removes radium from water when competition for sorption sites and clogging of sites is reduced. Filter sand that is rinsed daily with dilute acid will remove radium from water. Manganese dioxide coated filter sorption removes radium but more capacity would be desirable. The radium selective complexer selectively removes radium with significant capacity if iron fouling is eliminated. Other radium removal processes that are discussed include limesoda ash softening, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal and potassium permanganate-greensand filtration. Brief discussion of process cost is given.