Re: Soil Washing of Uranyl Nitrate

[mem6@juno.com (Milton E McLain)]

From:
Milton McLain
mem6@juno.com

On Mon, 25 Aug 97 09:10:27 -0500 SECORNJ@aol.com writes:
>Does anyone have experience removing uranyl nitrate from soil?  Will 
>soil
>washing work?  Comments are appreciated.
>
>Andy Schwartz
>SECOR
>SECORNJ@aol.com
>
*********************

Andy,

Uranyl nitrate is very soluble  in water and leaching soil with water
should be an effective technique, PROVIDED THAT:

	1. The soil clay content does not retain the uranyl cations by
	virtue of the clay's ion exchange capacity; and
	2. You adjust the leach water pH value to the slightly acid side,
	e.g. ~ 3-4 range.  Higher pH water may precipitate the uranium
	as a hydrous oxide and inhibit recovery.

BPF, Inc.( in the Dallas area) has developed a very effective,
"industrial strength  process"  for removal of NORM from soils.  This
process typically reduces the concentration below the unrestricted
release limit of 5 pCi/g, even for the more difficult NORM components.

The company and contacts there are:

		BPF, Inc.		             (972)709-3890
		205 East Center Street	                          
-3899[fax]
		Duncanville, TX  75116

	Tom O. Bush, Ph.D.,  President 	 tobush@aol.com
	Don W. Capone, Ph.D., VP Engineering   
			dcapone@computek.net

Milton McLain
mem6@juno.com