METHOD PURIFYING SAND FROM RADIOACTIVE NUCLIDES Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC G21F9/28 

FIELD: physics, nuclear.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to protection of the environment, rehabilitation of territories contaminated with industrial radioactive isotopes. The method of purifying sand from radioactive nuclides involves initial breaking of soil aggregates, the surface muddy layer covering sand grains and pebbles. After separation and washing, the pebbles are taken out of the process cycle. The pulp is separated into a sand and a fine-dispersed fraction through water-gravitational separation in a classification module. After thickening and dehydration, the fine-dispersed fraction is taken to the radioactive waste storage. The sand fraction is washed with water, dehydrated and subjected to reactant treatment, at the end of which the reactant solution is separated and the soil washes with water. The separated reactant solution is mixed with water from washing the soil and radioactive nuclides are precipitated from the obtained mixture. The obtained precipitate is taken to the radioactive waste storage. After reactant treatment and washing with water, the sand fraction is repeatedly separated into a fine-dispersed and a sand fraction through water-gravitational separation. After thickening and dehydration, the fine-dispersed fraction is taken to the radioactive waste storage, and the sand fraction is returned to the selection site.

EFFECT: complete separation of the fine-dispersed fraction and increase in the decontamination factor.

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