Treatment of radium-bearing brine using various zeolites: NaP1, NaX, clinoptilolite, 3A, 5A, 13X, ZSM-5, SAPO-11, SAPO-34

This paper investigates the possibility of radium removal from brines using zeolites. Radium concentration in collected from hard coal mine water was as follows: 226Ra 3.3 ± 0.2 Bq/l, 228Ra 5.5 ± 0.5 Bq/L. Ten types of zeolites were selected for treatment: clinoptilolite, NaP1, NaX, 3A, 5A, 13X, Y, ZSM-5, SAPO-11, and SAPO-34. Sequential batch purification tests were performed. High efficiencies of radium removal from mine brine achieved with NaP1 and NaX, synthesized from fly ahes, are promising for the further application of obtained zeolitic materials, especially for water treatment. Furthermore, the use of zeolites derived from waste fly ash is an ecological and sustainable solution for environmental protection and remediation.