Using of Electrodeposition Technique to remove Ra-226 from Contaminated soil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to remove Ra-226 from the contaminated soil samples which collected from one of oil company located at western desert of Egypt. Five soil samples (S-1, S-2, S-3,S-4,S-5) were collected from the bottom of evaporation pond from different positions of dry evaporation pond inside the oil  company. The activity concentration of Ra-226 measured by using the Hyper Pure Germanium  detector (HPGe) connected to MCA . Electrodeposition  technique was used  to produce in situ metallic coatings by the action of an electric current on a conductive material immersed in a solution containing a salt of the metal to be deposited. Chemical agents added to the solution to increase the efficiency of contaminant removal  nitric acid HNO3 was added to improve the solubility of Ra-226. Three different  electrods made from stainless steel, aluminum and cupper poles  were used in this study. The data obtained showed that the highest removal  percentage of the Ra-226 found to be 73% when the aluminum pole was used. Therefore, from the obtained data, it is clear that the electrodeposition technique using aluminum poles for removal of Ra-226 can be used for remediation or treatment contaminated soil produced from oil industry.