Purification of radioactively-contaminated waters of 90Sr and U(VI) by a ferrite method

We investigated the processes of water purification of ^sup 90^Sr and U(VI) by the ferrite method using the salts FeSO^sub 4^ and FeCl^sub 3^. It was found that for the formation of a crystalline sediment with magnetic properties there is required a total concentration of iron in the solution ≥150 mg/dm^sup 3^. Due to partial oxidation of Fe(II) with air oxygen the optimal ratio Fe(II)/Fe(III) in solution should be equal to 6. Alkali concentration for precipitating ferrite under these conditions constitutes 0.01 M. When the alkali concentration is increased further the volume of magnetite sediments does not change, while the values of saturation magnetic induction of ferrite remain maximum. By means of the analysis of phase composition it is shown that the resultant sediment possesses high crystalline property and saturation magnetic induction virtually right after precipitation and has a structure of ferrite. We carried out an assessment of a water purification degree of ^sup 90^Sr and U(VI) by the ferrite method.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]