title: Evaluation of the use of reverse osmosis to eliminate natural radionuclides from water samples.
abstract: The objective of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) is to supply the population with tap water that is in optimal condition and in compliance with water quality regulations. In the DWTP of L'Ampolla (Tarragona, Spain), slightly high values of gross alpha activity and the amount of salts in the raw water have been observed. Conventional treatment has reduced these levels only minimally. This study tested a tertiary treatment based on reverse osmosis is tested in an industrial pilot plant (240 m3/day) The efficiency of this pilot plant to reduce the gross alpha and beta activities and the activity of some individual radioisotopes (U(238), U(234), U(235) and Ra(226)) was tested. Results showed that the elimination of alpha emitters was greater than 90%, whereas the elimination of beta emitters was about 35%. Overall, the data provided evidence that the pilot plant is effective for removing different radionuclides that can be present in the incoming water treated. Therefore, tertiary treatment based on reverse osmosis has a positive effect in water quality.
authors.affiliation: Department de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.affiliation: Department de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palomo
authors.affiliation: Consorci d'Aigües de Tarragona, L'Ampolla, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruana
authors.affiliation: Department de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peñalver
authors.affiliation: Department de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Department de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Radioquímica Ambiental i Sanitaria, L'Ampolla, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrull
mesh_terms: D009995:Osmosis; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013030:Spain; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes