URANIUM SOILS DECONTAMINATION BY WASHING METHOD

A remediation method is presented in order to limit the pollution degree due to mining activities of soils with radioactive uranium. The washing method of polluted soils was investigated. For remediation of radioactive soils the following systems were used: a) water, b) 0.1 M sulfuric acid, and c) sodium chloride solution (100 g / L sodium chloride + 10 g / L sodium carbonate). The washing conditions in a system with mechanical agitation were: mass ratio solid/liquid 1:2, contact time 2 hours, temperature 20 degrees +/- 2 degrees C. Experimental investigations were performed on four types of soils, which have been characterized in terms of particle size distribution, texture and chemical composition. It was established the remediation degree for each type of soil and reagent.