Removal of Radioactive Ions from Contaminated Water by Ion Exchange Resin

In this study, we used three kinds of commercially available cation, anion, and mixed-ion exchange resins to separate radioactive ions from a polluted water containing Cs, I, and other radioactive ions. The experiment was conducted at a room temperature with a batch method, and a comparative analysis on the decontamination ability of each resin for the removal of Cs and I was performed by using different quantities of resins. The concentration was analyzed using ion chromatography and the ion exchange resin product from company D showed an overall high ion exchange ability. However, for most of the experiments when the amount of ion exchange resin was decreased, the decontamination ability of the resins against mass increased. When the mass of company D’s cation exchange resin was small, the ion exchange ability against Cs and I ions were measured as 0.199 and 0.344 meq/g, respectively. When the mixed ion exchange resin was used, the ion exchange ability against I ions was measured as 0.33 meq/g. All in all, company D’s ion exchange resins exhibited a relatively higher ion exchange ability particularly against I ions than that of other companies’ exchange ions.