Removal of radionuclides by reverse osmosis using a cellulose acetate membrane

Experiments with a reverse osmosis method were carried out to treat radioactive liquid wastes. The purpose of this study is examine the influence of the concentrations of solutes and co-existing materials in a feed solution. 54Mn, 58Co, 85Sr and 134Cs were selected as representative radionuclides contained in radioactive liquid wastes. NaCl and CaCl2 were added to a feed solution as co-existing materials. When the concentrations of the solutes were less than several tens of mmol/l, a decontamination factor (DF) of the cations examined here was varied with the solute concentration. The maximum DF value of cesium was obtained in a lower solute concentration than three cations of divalent. A DF value of cesium differed insignificantly from those of the others. In a cases of cesium or manganese, the influence of co-existing materials on DF was complex that reflects in a complicated DF profile. (author)