1. Emanation of Radon from Radium Removal Point of Use Units
Prof. Abdulrahman Alabdulaaly
King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
WQA Aquatech USA 2010
Orlando, Florida
9 – 12 March, 2010

2. OVERVIEW Introduction Objective Experimental Setup Results
Conclusions and Recommendations

3. INTRODUCTION Purpose of POU
Removal of impurities, taste, color, odorRemoval of contaminants
Processes used in POU
Physical – Filters
Absorption – Ion Exchange
Separation – Reverse Osmosis
Radium Removal Processes
Conventional – LS, IE, RO, ED, CF.Specific – Co-prcip., Ba/Ra, HMO, RSA
Major Problems of Radium Specific Adsorbents (RSA)

4. OBJECTIVE
Assessment of radon emanation from radium specific adsorbents in the form of acrylic filters used to remove radium and ways to reduce radon levels in the treated water.

5. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
-Preparation of Cartridge Filters
-Unit Operation.

6. Preparation of Cartridge Filters
Three (3) Acrylic Cartridge Filters were treated with KMnO4
Cart. filters 20 in. long, 2 in Dia, 20 micron
Solution Temp. : 60 oC
Solution Flow rate : 1.0 gpm
Duration : 20 hrs.
Amount of KMnO4 used : 150, 250, 350, grams
Cart. Codes : A (plain), B (150 gr.) C (250 gr), D (350 gr.)

7. Treatment of Cartridge filters with Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)
Pump
Heater
صمام
Cartridge filter
Cartridge housing
To drain
Wash water tank
Electrical
Magnetic stirrer
Magnet
KMnO4
Solution
tank
Valve
Treatment of Cartridge filters with Potassium Permanganate (KMnO4)

10. UNIT OPERATION Phase I The four filters were connected in parallel
Raw water contains : pCi/L Ra 226
100 pCi/L Rn 222
Continuous water flow at 0.5 gpm for about 24 months
Phase II
Two identical Cart. Filters treated with 250 gr KMnO4
One filter connected to a commercial carbon filter.
Second filter connected to Hydro Darco carbon filter.
Water flow at 0.11 gpm for 10 min. every 3 hours (8 am - 8 pm) for 24 months.

11. Experimental Unit Setup
Overflow
Water
Raw
Air compressor
To drain
Sand Filter
Cart. B
Cart. A
Cart. C
Cart. D
Micron filter
Experimental Unit Setup
Pump
Valve
Sampling valve
Flow meter

13. RESULTS

14. Radon level in product water with continuous water flow
3000
2700
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
Bed Volume, thousands
Radon, pCi/L
Raw water
Radon level in product water with continuous water flow
Cart. A
Cart. B
Cart. C
Cart. D

15. Time after resumption of water flow, min
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
Time after resumption of water flow, min
Radon, pCi/L
Radon level in product water in the first 3hrs after resumption of operation followed by 12 hrs of no flow condition
Cart. A
Cart. B
Cart. C
Cart. D

16. Comparison of Radon level in product water for the four cart. Filters
100,000
10,000
1,000
100 10
Time after resumption of water flow, min
Radon, pCi/L
Comparison of Radon level in product water for the four cart. Filters
after resumption of operation followed by 12 hrs no flow condition
Cart. A
Cart. B
Cart. C
Cart. D

17. Radon level in product water using commercial carbon filter
3900
3600
3300
3000
2700
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
Bed Volume, thousands
Radon, pCi/L
After Cart. Filter
Affer Carbon Filter
Raw water
Radon level in product water using commercial carbon filter

18. Radon level in product water using HD carbon filter
6900
6600
6300
6000
5700
5400
5100
4800
4500
4200
3900
3600
3300
3000
2700
2400
2100
1800
1500
1200
900
600
300
Bed Volume, thousands
Radon, pCi/L
Radon level in product water using HD carbon filter
After Cart. Filter
After Carbon Filter
Raw water

19. Results Summary
Continuous flow with raw water containing 100 pCi/L of radon.
Radon levels exceeded 600 pCi/L after treating about 5200 m3 (400,000 BV) of water.
Radon levels after 12 hrs of no flow.
The maximum conc. of radon was reached after about 12 min of flow resumption.
Cart. C : pCi/L
Cart. B : pCi/L
Cart. D : pCi/L
Radon level were stabilized after about 60 min of operation
Installing carbon filters after the cart. Filter resulted in about 44% reduction in radon level.

20. CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS
High levels of radon are expected to emanate from POU units designed to remove radium.
The first few bed volumes of water after no flow periods contain very high levels of radon in product water.
Installing carbon filters after radium removal cartridges reduces radon levels but not complete removal.
It is recommended that caution be practiced while using such units due to the problem of radon emanation.

21. Thank You