REMOVAL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FROM MILK BY ELECTRODIALYSIS
Abstract
The removal of the radionuclide contaminants, barium, cesium, lanthanum, cerium and iodine, from milk by electrodialysis was investigated. As in the ion exchange process, over 90% removal of strontium is obtained when the pH of the milk is adjusted to 5.1 to 5.3, whereas at the normal milk pH poor removal is obtained. At 90% removal of strontium, about 80% of the barium and over 99% of the cesium is removed. Very slight removal of lanthanum and no removal of cerium has been observed. In the decontamination process radioactive ions are purged electrically from the milk through an ion transfer membrane along with other ions normally present in milk into a waste solution. The latter ions are replaced simultaneously through another ion-transfer membrane from an aqueous solution of salts (make-up solution). The salt concentration and composition of the milk can be maintained by controlling the composition and concentration of the make-up solution. Less than 1% of the lactose in the milk was lost to the waste solution. Therefore, the loss of organics from the milk to the waste solution can be assumed to be negligible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 07, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0429917
Entities
People
- Edgardo J. Parsi
- William B. Iaconelli