Automated Pilot Plant for Removing Radiostrontium from Milk

The removal of strontram-90 from milk by ion exchange resins has been programmed through the laboratory, pilot, and commercial scale plants. This paper presents the operation and results from an automated pilot plant, using ion exchange resins to remove strontium-90 from milk. The process involves adjusting the milk to 10C, lowering the pH of the milk to 5.3 by in-line injection of an acid solution; passing the acidified milk through a filter and a properly charged (regenerated) ion exchange resin column for removal of the strontium-90; then readjusting the pH of the milk by in-line injection of a base solution. A series of 8-hr test runs was made with this automated pilot plant, using milk at environmental levels of strontium-90, to ascertain removal of strontium-90 and to evaluate the resin-treated milk for flavor. The removal of strontium-90 from the milk exceeded 90%. The treated milk compared favorably with the control when subjected to a panel for organoleptic evaluation. Available data from the commercial scale operation indicate compatibility with the pilot plant operation, and will be presented in a subsequent publication.