Modified Sorbents Based on Granular Glauconite for Natural Waters Purification from Radio Nuclides

Expediency of the modified sorbents application for natural waters purification from cesium and strontium radio nuclides has been demonstrated. Possibility to use granular glauconite as a carrier for sorption-active agent films has been considered. Results of the research of 137Cs and 90Sr radio nuclides sorption reduction from water solutions with modified materials based on granular glauconite in static and dynamic conditions are presented. A cesium and strontium concentration range within which the reduced elements distribution between solid and liquid phases is in accordance with Henry’s law has been determined. Within the Henry’s law action area the modified sorbents distribution coefficients are Kd = (1.0±0.2)·104 ml/g for cesium and Kd = (1.6±0.7)·103 ml/g for strontium. It has been shown that the modified sorbents are an order of magnitude higher that initial granular glauconite in terms of their kinetic and capacitive characteristics. Static exchange capacity of the modified granular glauconite for 137Cs is estimated as 144 mg/g, for 90Sr as 42 mg/g. Dynamic exchange capacity of the modified sorbent is more than 11 mg/g for 137Cs, the value of the detained water phase volume exceeds 22 000 ml (≈ 7000 columnar volumes). The obtained experimental data can be applied for development of technological schemes for natural water sources rehabilitation on any radiation-contaminated territories.