The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 16
No 1 (2012): 31 – 38
OPTIMIZATION STUDY FOR REMOVAL
OF RADIUM-226 FROM RADIUM-CONTAMINATED SOIL USING HUMIC ACID
(Kajian Pengoptimuman Penyingkiran Radium-226 Daripada Tanih Tercemar
Radium
Dengan Menggunakan Asid
Humik)
Esther Phillip1,2 *,
Muhamad Samudi Yasir1, Muhamat Omar2, Mohd Zaidi Ibrahim2,
Zalina Laili2
1School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
2 Waste and Environmental Technology Division,
Malaysia Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia.
*Corresponding author: esther@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my
Abstract
This study discusses the various parameters involved
in the removal of radium-226 from radium-contaminated soil using humic acid
extracted from Malaysian peat soil. The parameters studied included the contact
time, the pH and the concentration of humic acid solution and the liquid/solid ratio.
The optimum removal efficiency of radium-226 was achieved after 24 hours of agitation.
Further agitation did not contribute to any increase in the removal efficiency
of radium-226. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of radium-226 was optimum when
the humic acid concentration was 100 ppm. The greatest removal efficiency of radium-226
was obtained using highly basic humic acid solutions of pH 10 – 11. Humic acid
solutions of basic pH 8 – 9 resulted in comparable removal efficiency to humic
acid solutions of pH 7. Nevertheless, acidic humic acid solutions showed the
lowest removal efficiency of radium-226. For the purpose of this study, humic
acid solutions of pH 7 were used throughout the study. A ratio of 20 mL humic
acid solution to 1 g soil sample was found as the optimum value. Any further
increment in the ratio did not contribute to the removal efficiency of radium-226.
Keywords: Radium-226,
Humic Acid, Contact time, pH, Concentration, Liquid/solid ratio
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