1
|
Pinna-Hernández MG, Salas A, Rodríguez-Ruano I, Guillén J, Baeza A, Martínez-Rodríguez FJ, López JLC. Reduction of natural radioactivity in groundwater with different salinity through adsorption of uranium and radium in filter materials. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:48988-48998. [PMID: 36763277 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25638-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
In many small communities in the Mediterranean area, groundwater is usually the only water body available. Depending mainly on the surrounding geology, their concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides may pose a radiological hazard. Removal of uranium and radium from drinking water is the best way to avoid it, i.e., reverse osmosis (RO), but consuming a lot of energy. Thus, two modified drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) using zeolites coated with manganese dioxide as adsorbent material were analyzed as an alternative to RO. Groundwater salinity can negatively affect this process. Radium removal decreased as water salinity increased; but it had a major impact on uranium, rendering the adsorption effectless in one DWTP. Waste management and how to avoid it from becoming radioactive are of major concern. Radium and uranium were associated to the reducible fraction in the filter material and also to the carbonate fraction in the case of uranium. Regeneration of the filter material using KCl solutions was able to remove 81% and 63% of uranium and radium, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Guadalupe Pinna-Hernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, Carretera de Sacramento s/n 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
- Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Alejandro Salas
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Isabel Rodríguez-Ruano
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, Carretera de Sacramento s/n 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
- Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain
| | - Javier Guillén
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - Antonio Baeza
- LARUEX, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - José Luis Casas López
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, Carretera de Sacramento s/n 04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
- Solar Energy Research Centre (CIESOL), Joint Centre University of Almería-CIEMAT, 04120, Almería, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Suárez-Navarro JA, Expósito-Suárez VM, Crespo MT, Sánchez-Castaño B, Suárez-Navarro MJ, Gascó C, Barragán M, Gascón JL, Pecker R, Sánchez-Pérez L, González-Cano L, Rosario A. Improvements in the radiochemical method for separating 226Ra in solid samples through coprecipitation with BaSO 4. Appl Radiat Isot 2022; 187:110321. [PMID: 35732096 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to improve the commonly used method for 226Ra determination in water and to establish its application in solid samples. This method is based on the coprecipitation of Ra with BaSO4 and gross alpha counting of the precipitate. An exhaustive study of the coprecipitation behaviour of the most abundant cations present in solid samples was performed to avoid incorrect radiochemical yields. As a result, it was considered necessary to introduce two new purification steps into the conventional method. Likewise, two nuclides, 241Am and 226Ra, were compared to obtain the mass efficiency curve given their different behaviour in the coprecipitation process. While Ra behaves similarly to Ba, Am coprecipitates, forming mixed crystals that may behave differently in the self-absorption process. The influence of the cations on the chemical yield with no precipitate purification was: Sr2+≫Fe3+>Mg2+≈Ca2+>K+≈Na+. The method was successfully applied to soil, sediment, and plant ash samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - M T Crespo
- CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - M J Suárez-Navarro
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), E.T.S.I. Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Profesor Aranguren s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Gascó
- CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Barragán
- CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - J L Gascón
- CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Pecker
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - A Rosario
- IES Virgen de la Paloma, 28039, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Muñoz-Muñoz JG, Guillén J, Salas A. Modification of natural radionuclide uptake by wheat using a NORM by-product as soil amendment. Appl Radiat Isot 2020; 167:109458. [PMID: 33059190 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Drinking Water Treatment Plants (DWTPs) can be optimised for removal of natural radionuclides, thus meeting EU legislation. Removed radionuclides (234,238U, 226Ra and 210Po) go into sludges. What would happen if these sludges were used in agriculture? Wheat plantlets were cultivated in original and sludge-amended soils under laboratory controlled conditions. Soil-to plant transfer was significantly increased in factors ranging 1.2-3.7, 2.0-5.6, and 1.6-2.4 for 234,238U, 226Ra and 210Po, respectively. The additional input was preferentially accumulated in roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J G Muñoz-Muñoz
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J Guillén
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain.
| | - A Salas
- LARUEX, Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory, Dpt. Applied Physics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Avda. Universidad, s/n, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ng AJ, Sheehan NP, Martinez E, Murray K, McCollum C, Flagg T, Boyle J, Bier P. Distributed treatment systems. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2020; 92:1418-1424. [PMID: 32574412 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This section presents a review of the scientific literature published in 2019 on topics relating to distributed treatment systems. This review is divided into the following sections: constituent removal, treatment technologies, planning and treatment management, and other topics. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Highlights changes and innovation in removal techniques and technologies in water treatment. Reviews management systems of distributed treatment systems. Discusses point-of-use treatment systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Ng
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Nathaniel P Sheehan
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Erick Martinez
- Department of Chemistry and Life Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Kyle Murray
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Caleb McCollum
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Tim Flagg
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - John Boyle
- Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, USA
| | - Peter Bier
- U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
| |
Collapse
|