Ion exchange-based treatment of 60Co contaminated well-water for storing γ irradiation source

Abstract

Objective To select an efficient ion exchange resin to purify the 60Co contaminated well-water for storing radioactive source and to ensure the radioactivity of 60Co in treated well-water below 10 Bq/L.Methods The radioactivity of 60Co in the water samples was measured by using the potassium cobaltinitrite coprecipitation-β counting method.The treatment efficiencies of two different ion exchange resins for the simulated 60Co-bearing waste water were compared to select a better one to dispose of the 60Co contaminated well-water.Results The treatment efficiency of MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin was about 5.8 times higher than ZGCNR50 strong-acid cation exchange resin.The radioactivity of 60Co in the contaminated well-water could be reduced from 4.16 × 105 Bq/L to 1.16 Bq/L by two-stage sorption of MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin.Conclusions Using several times of two-stage MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin could effectively purify the 60Co contaminated well-water.The quality of the treated well-water could meet the sewage discharge standards. Key words: Ion exchange method; 60Co; Well-water storing radioactive source