226Ra measurement by LSC as a tool to assess the efficiency of a water treatment technology for removing radionuclides from groundwater

Suursoo, Siiri; Kiisk, Madis; Al-Malahmeh, Amer J.; Jantsikene, Alar; Putk, Kaisa; Lumiste, Liie

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2014.01.016

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Radium was co-precipitated with Ba(SO 4 ) 2 and then the precipitate was put into an aluminium vessel and homogenised with 5 g of epoxy resin. Epoxy was added to minimise radon ( 222 Rn and 220 Rn) leakage from the sample [44]. The samples were measured after at least 3 weeks from sample collection on a high purity germanium gamma spectrometer (coaxial type detector GEM 35200 (manufacturer E&G Ortec, USA), coaxial GCD 50200 or planar GPD 50400 (manufacturer BSI-Baltic Scientific Instruments, Latvia).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intrusion of Saline Water into a Coastal Aquifer Containing Palaeogroundwater in the Viimsi Peninsula in Estonia

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Viimsi peninsula is located north-east of Tallinn, capital of Estonia. The Cambrian-Vendian (Cm-V) aquifer system is a sole source of drinking water in the area. Historically, the groundwater exploitation has led to freshening of groundwater in the peninsula, but in recent years an increase in chloride concentrations and enrichment in δ18O values has been detected, but in recent years hydrochemical parameters indicate an increasing influence of a saline water source. The exact origin of this saline water has remained unclear. The aim of the current study is to elucidate whether the increase in Cl− concentrations is related to seawater intrusion or to the infiltration of saline water from the underlying crystalline basement. To identify the source of salinity, chemical composition of the groundwater and the isotope tracers (e.g., δ18O and radium isotopes) were studied in the Viimsi peninsula in the period from 1987 to 2018. Our results show that chemical composition of Cm-V groundwater in the peninsula is clearly controlled by three-component mixing between glacial palaeogroundwater, saline water from the underling crystalline basement and modern meteoric water. The concentrations of Ra are also significantly affected by the mixing, but the spatial variation of radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) suggests the widespread occurrence of the U in the surrounding sedimentary sequence. Our hypothesis is that, in addition to U originating from the crystalline basement, some U could be associated with secondary U deposits in sedimentary rocks. The formation of these secondary U deposits could be related to glacial meltwater intrusion in the Pleistocene. Although the results suggest that the infiltration of saline groundwater from the underlying crystalline basement as the main source of salinity in the study area, the risk of seawater intrusion in the future cannot be ruled out. It needs to be highlighted that the present groundwater monitoring networks may not be precise enough to detect the potential seawater intrusion and subsequent changes in water quality of the Cm-V aquifer system in the Viimsi peninsula.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intrusion of Saline Water into a Coastal Aquifer Containing Palaeogroundwater in the Viimsi Peninsula in Estonia

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The amount of radionuclides in the raw water depends on the combination of wells feeding the plant. When the observations of raw water and filtrates 1 and 2 of the fifth treatment line were first summarised in April 2013, the radium concentrations in filtrate 2 had slightly exceeded the detection limit only twice (Suursoo et al 2014b). A longer observation period reveals a different picture: radium concentrations in filtrate 2 and the consumer water rise steadily over time, which indicates changes in the filtration system unseen in the planning phase of the technology.…”

Section: Cross-sections Of the Fifth Treatment Line-water Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term monitoring of water treatment technology designed for radium removal—removal efficiencies and NORM formation

Hill¹,

Suursoo

Kiisk

et al. 2017

J. Radiol. Prot.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A drinking water treatment plant in Viimsi, Estonia was monitored over three years for iron, manganese, radium-226, radium-228, and their daughter nuclides in order to determine the efficiency of the treatment process, get an insight of the removal mechanisms and interactions between radium, iron, and manganese, and assess the overall longevity and performance of the technology and possible build-up of NORM from the treatment process. During the study, samples were collected from raw water, first and second stage filtrate, consumer water, backwash water, and filter materials. The results show a consistent removal efficiency for iron and manganese, as well as an average of over 85% removal for radium with a slight decline with time. Backwash process has been optimized for maximum radium removal from the filters, while keeping the radium concentrations in the backwash water below exemption levels. However, accumulation of radium and thorium occurs in the filter material, exceeding exemption levels in the top layer of the filter columns in less than a year. By the end of the observation period, activity concentrations in the top layer of the columns were above 30 000 Bq/kg for Ra-226 and Ra-228, and around 15 000 Bq/kg for Th-228. Radionuclides are not homogenously distributed in the filter columns. In order to estimate the average activity concentrations in the filter media, the height distribution of radionuclides has to be accounted for. Two years and two months after commissioning of the treatment plant average activity concentrations of Ra isotopes in the filter columns were in a range of 10 000 Bq/kg while Th-228 activity concentration was roughly 3500 Bq/kg.

show abstract

Groundwater treatment as a source of indoor radon

Jantsikene

Kiisk

Suursoo

et al. 2014

Applied Radiation and Isotopes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

226Ra measurement by LSC as a tool to assess the efficiency of a water treatment technology for removing radionuclides from groundwater

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Intrusion of Saline Water into a Coastal Aquifer Containing Palaeogroundwater in the Viimsi Peninsula in Estonia

Intrusion of Saline Water into a Coastal Aquifer Containing Palaeogroundwater in the Viimsi Peninsula in Estonia

Long-term monitoring of water treatment technology designed for radium removal—removal efficiencies and NORM formation

Groundwater treatment as a source of indoor radon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About