Separation of Radium from Water

Radium is a naturally-occurring radioactive element that is found in some groundwater. The US Environmental Protection Agency set a maximum contaminant level for the combined isotopes at 5 pCi/L. The uranium mining industry is also concerned about radium where it is a by-product of solution mining.

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    Ra

    Radium

Potable Water

 

Radium exists as a divalent cation in groundwater, so processes that remove water hardness components like calcium and magnesium are effective. Radium can be non-selectively removed from groundwater via standard cation exchange resins such as AmberLite™ HPR1100 Na Strong Acid Cation Resin and AmberLite™ IRC83 H Weak Acid Cation Resin, using several different regeneration cycles. These processes change the composition of the water hardness components and produce radium-containing wastes, which may not be desirable.

Before use, please check local regulations for use and disposal.

These resins may be subject to drinking water application restrictions in some countries. Please check the application status before use and sale. For more information see our regulatory information.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Mining

 

Radium is also of concern in mining applications. Radium can be non-selectively removed from groundwater via standard cation exchange resins such as AmberSep™ G26 H Strong Acid Cation Resin and AmberLite™ IRC83 H Weak Acid Cation Resin, using several different regeneration cycles. These processes change the composition of the water hardness components and produce radium-containing wastes, which may not be desirable.

In uranium mining, radium is dealt with by direct barium precipitation techniques. These processes take up a lot of space and generate large quantities of sludge that must be further treated.