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Evaluation of the Use of Reverse Osmosis to Eliminate Natural Radionuclides from Water Samples
Author(s) -
Nieto Antonio,
Palomo Marta,
Ruana Josep,
Peñalver Alejandra,
Aguilar Carme,
Borrull Francesc
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143013x13807328848298
Subject(s) - reverse osmosis , radionuclide , water treatment , raw water , pilot plant , environmental science , water quality , reverse osmosis plant , population , environmental engineering , tap water , waste management , chemistry , engineering , medicine , membrane , environmental health , biology , ecology , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
The objective of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) is to supply the population with tap water that is in optimal condition and in compliance with water quality regulations. In the DWTP of L'Ampolla (Tarragona, Spain), slightly high values of gross alpha activity and the amount of salts in the raw water have been observed. Conventional treatment has reduced these levels only minimally. This study tested a tertiary treatment based on reverse osmosis is tested in an industrial pilot plant (240 m 3 /day) The efficiency of this pilot plant to reduce the gross alpha and beta activities and the activity of some individual radioisotopes (U 238 , U 234 , U 235 and Ra 226 ) was tested. Results showed that the elimination of alpha emitters was greater than 90%, whereas the elimination of beta emitters was about 35%. Overall, the data provided evidence that the pilot plant is effective for removing different radionuclides that can be present in the incoming water treated. Therefore, tertiary treatment based on reverse osmosis has a positive effect in water quality.