Evaluating Solid Sorbents for Recycling Wash Waters Containing Strontium and Calcium
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23, Issue 1
Abstract
A system for rapid reduction of radioactive contamination and recycle of contaminated waters is called the Integrated Wash-Aid, Treatment, and Emergency Reuse System (IWATERS). First developed for cesium contaminations, IWATERS prescribes the use of salt and surfactant additives to decontaminate radionuclides from urban surfaces. The water is collected and recycled after passing through reactive filtration beds containing selective sorbents. To adapt the IWATERS for strontium contaminations, potential additives to enhance its decontamination from urban surfaces are identified. One possible additive is calcium (). However, its concentration can have a very strong detrimental effect on the ability of selective sorbents to remove strontium from spent wash water. We recognized that studies on off-the-shelf sorbents that include concentrations at relevant levels (greater than millimolar) are absent in the literature. To understand better the effect of , we completed a literature review, batch tests, and surface complexation modeling to reveal few sorbent options. Only silico-titanate sorbents exhibited high values in the presence of , but have significant drawbacks in cost and availability. Given the state of the art, it is imperative that alternatives to alkaline earth ions in the IWATERS be identified to permit in situ recycle of the wash waters.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Joan Bursey for technical editing of this manuscript. The US Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development partially funded and collaborated with the Technical Support Working Group/Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office in the research described here under Interagency Agreement 92380201. It has been subjected to the Agency’s review and has been approved for publication. Note that approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views of the Agency. Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation. The manuscript as submitted has been created by U Chicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a US Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.
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Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23 • Issue 1 • January 2019
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©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jan 3, 2018
Accepted: May 1, 2018
Published online: Oct 30, 2018
Published in print: Jan 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Mar 30, 2019
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