Operation Sun Beam, Shots Little Feller I, II, Johnie Boy, and Small Boy. Project Officers Report - Project 7.17. Radiological Water Decontamination Study

Abstract

This study showed that (1) The solubility of radioactive debris increased with a decrease in pH and an increase in temperature, but the change was not significant in the pH and temperature variations for normal drinking water supplies. (2) The solubility of radioactive debris was not markedly affected by contact time. (3) The solubility of radioactive debris was significant enough to require water demineralization to produce drinking water within the acceptable one year and one month drinking water tolerance levels. (4) Radioactive debris from surface detonations can be colloidal and remain in suspension in water for extended periods of time and be readily transported to downstream water sources; and (5) Emergency type water purification methods such as filtration through clay and paper, batch coagulation, filtration through a cellulose filter disc, and molded filter candles effectively reduced radioactive contaminants to short range (less than 30 days) drinking water tolerance levels.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 29, 1963
Accession Number
AD0420340

Entities

People

  • Don C. Lindsten

Organizations

  • United States Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter IED
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army
  • Bombs
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Defense
  • Detection
  • Drinking Water
  • Emergencies
  • Fission Products
  • Materials
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Particles
  • Radioactive Materials
  • Radioactivity
  • Standards
  • Water
  • Water Purification
  • Water Supplies

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Explosive Engineering.