A Comparative Study of Methods for Radon Elimination from Drinking Water

Various methods of radon (Rn-222) elimination from drinking water are compared. All experiments were performed using natural underground water containing nearly 100 Bq/L of radon. Air bubbling, heating and settling were tested as physical methods, whereas adsorption on various types of activated carbons were tested as physicochemical methods. It was shown that air bubbling was the most effective methods among the physical ones: it provided 99 % of Rn elimination in 2 h and 95 % elimination in 1 h. Adsorption of radon by Carbotech activated carbon resulted in more than 90 % elimination of radon; additional elimination of short-lived decay products and prevention of radon transfer to air were significant advantages of the physicochemical methods.