WaterSolutions Separation of Radium from Water

Potable Water: Radium exists as a divalent cation in groundwater, so processes that remove water hardness components like calcium and magnesium are effective. Radium can be non-selectively removed from groundwater via standard cation exchange resins such as DOWEX™ MARATHON™ C (Na) strong acid cation exchange resin and DOWEX MAC-3 weak acid cation exchange resin, using several different regeneration cycles. These processes change the composition of the water hardness components and produce radium containing wastes, which may not be desirable.

DOWEX RSC (Radium Selective Complexer): Dow produces a distinct ion exchange product designated as DOWEX RSC resin that is extremely effective at removing radium and barium from drinking water. DOWEX RSC does not remove other water hardness ions. The resin is not regenerable and it concentrates the radium into a small volume for economical disposal.

DOWEX RSC can also be used to remove radium from waste brine from non-selective softening operations.

DOWEX RSC meets NSF / ANSI Standard 61 for contact with drinking water. For more information see our regulatory information.

Mining: Radium is also of concern in mining applications. Radium can be non-selectively removed from groundwater via standard cation exchange resins such as DOWEX G-26 (H) strong acid cation exchange resin and DOWEX MAC-3 weak acid cation exchange resin, using several different regeneration cycles. These processes change the composition of the water hardness components and produce radium containing wastes, which may not be desirable. In uranium mining, radium is dealt with by direct barium precipitation techniques. These processes take up a lot of space and generate large quantities of sludge that must be further treated. Radium can also be selectively removed with DOWEX RSC.