State-of-the-Art Review on Removal of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Water

Zaid Al-Shomali (), Alcides Pereira, Ana Clara Marques and Maria de Lurdes Dinis
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Zaid Al-Shomali: CERENA-FEUP—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Engineering Faculty, University of Porto (FEUP), Rua Dr. Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Alcides Pereira: Laboratório de Radioatividade Natural, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra (LRN-FCTUC), Rua Sílvio Lima, Polo II, 330-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Clara Marques: CERENA, DEQ, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria de Lurdes Dinis: CERENA-FEUP—Centre for Natural Resources and the Environment, Engineering Faculty, University of Porto (FEUP), Rua Dr. Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 5, 1-25

Abstract: Radionuclide-contaminated water is carcinogenic and poses numerous severe health risks and environmental dangers. Thus, effective removal techniques are required to ensure the safety of drinking water sources. This article overviews several methods to remove naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) from water, including adsorption, coagulation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, electrodialysis, iron manganese filtration, and membrane filtration. A search is conducted in different scientific databases to identify relevant articles, reviews, and studies on removing radionuclides from water. The overarching goal of this article is to deepen the understanding of the techniques available for radionuclide removal from water and to foster the creation of innovative solutions for water contamination concerns. Each technique is examined in terms of its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in removing specific radionuclides from water sources. The advantages and limitations of these techniques are discussed, highlighting the importance of selecting the most appropriate method based on the characteristics of the radionuclides and the water source. Different methods can be combined for the more effective removal of radionuclides from water, such as coagulation and filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange. The treatment of water contaminated with radionuclides requires prior laboratory work and pilot-scale tests to determine the most suitable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method.

Keywords: naturally occurring radioactive materials; water treatment; radionuclide removal techniques (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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