Abstract |
The research determined the feasibility of using BaSO4-impregnated activated alumina and plain activated alumina for radium removal from groundwater by fixed-bed adsorption. The major factors influencing radium adsorption onto the two types of alumina were identified. The radium regenerability of the aluminas was also studied. Good to excellent radium removals were obtained depending on the chemical composition of the feedwater. For example, BaSO4-impregnated alumina treated 25,000 bed volumes (BV) and plain alumina treated 14,000 BV of influent before radium and maximum contaminant level (MCL) breakthrough. The presence of sulfate ions in the feedwater enhanced, and the presence of barium inhibited radium adsorption on both types of alumina. The water hardness significantly reduced radium removal by plain alumina, although it had little effect on removal by BaSO4-impregnated alumina. |