Towards a smart & integral treatment of natural radioactivity
in water provision services
LIFE ALCHEMIA addresses one of the current challenges of water for human consumption such as the presence of natural radioactivity. There is a considerable lack of knowledge by the actors involved and it can be stated that, despite the current legislation (Directive 2013/51/Euratom), radioactivity is not systematically monitored at European level. Indeed, this is an environmental problem that cannot be solved at source, as it is generated by the groundwater dilution of minerals rich in radioactive isotopes, mainly from uranium (U), radium (Ra) and thorium (Th) series. Therefore, new systems able to provide sustainable removal of radioactivity from a cost-effectiveness point of view are needed. Reverse osmosis (RO) is the most commonly treatment used for this application; however carbon footprint of this process is very high and generates large volumes of water rejection with radioactivity that needs further treatment. LIFE ALCHEMIA offers a breakthrough in this problem from two angles. First, with the use of removal systems based on bed filters, which will reduce up to five times the cost of the water purification. Moreover, the whole life cycle of the radioactivity will be considered, including the management of the waste generated.
Objectives
To demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of bed filters that will be optimized to remove radioactivity from water and to minimize the generation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) exceeding the exemption level …
Expected results
In quantitative terms, LIFE ALCHEMIA will lead to the following results: 4 filter-based pilot plants will provide removal rates of gross alpha and beta activity up to 90%, and reductions in the concentrations of specific radionuclides (U and Ra) between 75% and 90% …
Improving drinking water quality
Building a sustainable futureProject news
Latest activity in LIFE ALCHEMIA
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First tests with the lab-sized scale plant in the DWTP from Benizalón
LIFE ALCHEMIA team moved the lab-sized scale plant built by CIESOL to the DWTP from Benizalón to carry out different assays with one of the filter materials that will be used in the pilot plants...
LIFE ALCHEMIA is going to attend the congress Water, Waste and Energy Management
The city of Madrid is going to host the congress Water, Waste and Energy Management organized by the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, the University Carlos III de Madrid, the University of...
LIFE ALCHEMIA was present in the XIII Spanish Meeting of Water Treatment
LIFE ALCHEMIA was present in the XIII Spanish Meeting of Water Treatment organized by the Spanish Board of Water Treatment in León, Spain. Our partners DIPALME and CIESOL presented a communication...
LIFE ALCHEMIA shared its experience about NORM management in IRPA 2018 congress
The Dutch Society for Radiation Protection (NVS) was pleased to host the 5th European IRPA Congress, that took place from 4th to 8th June, 2018 in the historical city of The Hague. With the theme...
The first databases compilling the DWTP that treat water containing natural radioactivity in different European countries are already available
The development of a database compilling the drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) that treat water containing natural radioactivity along Europe is one of the aims of LIFE ALCHEMIA. Our partners...
LIFE ALCHEMIA will be present in META 2018
LIFE ALCHEMIA is going to take part in the META network (Mesa Española de Tratamiento de Aguas/Spanish Board of Water Treatment), that this year is going to be organized by the University of León,...
Environmental awareness
Some project figures
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%
NORM reduction genetared during the elimination of radioactivity
%
Cost reduction in water treatment
%
Alpha and beta radioactivity reduction in pilot plants
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Environmental impact reduction
Participate with LIFE ALCHEMIA
Project evaluation online questionnaire and quick questionnaire about drinking water treatment plants (DWTP)
DWTP Database
Get access to our database of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) that treat water with natural radioactivity in Europe