Removal of uranium from drinking water by ion exchange and chemical clarification. Report for 1983-86

A pilot demonstration was conducted of ion-exchange and chemical-clarification equipment for removing uranium from drinking water. Four commercial-type ion-exchange columns and a prefiltering and regeneration solution system were constructed along with a pilot-scale chemical-clarification unit. The four ion-exchange columns each contained 2 cu ft. of resin. Three different ion-exchange resins were used. Resin capacity for uranium was represented by 12,000 to 20,000 bed volumes. The 1-gal/min chemical clarification unit consisted of a rapid-mix tank and precoat rotary vacuum filter. The unit was operated continuously for 3 months at pH values of 6 to 10 and ferric chloride concentrations of 15 to 40 mg/l. Greater than 99% removal of uranium was achieved when operating at 30 mg/l ferric chloride and pH 10. The diatomaceous earth precoat filter achieved complete solid-liquid separation. In addition to the pilot study, the report analyzes several currently operating water-treatment systems whose feed supplies contain uranium