Studies on the removal of trace amounts of 137Cs and 90Sr from low level effluents using PSS type cation exchanger

Usability of commercial polystyrene sulphonate cation exchanger, for the removal of trace concentrations of 137Cs and 90Sr from low level effluent stream generated from nuclear installations is studied. Batch sorption experiments are carried out under different experimental conditions from 137Cs and 90Sr spiked aqueous solutions of varied pH to evaluate and establish suitable operating parameters for the removal of the two most potentially mobile radionuclides. Results show that the resin can be used for the sorption of these radionuclide from spent fuel pond as well as from waste streams containing low concentrations of salt. (author)