INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION ON SYNTHETIC DETERGENTS, SWAGE COLLOIDAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SEWAGE SEDIMENTATION

摘要

An investigation of the effects of ionizing radiation upon colloidal phenomena and upon the sedimentation of sewage was conducted. Gamma radiation doses as low as 1270 rad at a rate of 10. 4 rad/min effected a 6% increase in the sedimentation of simulated sewages. A dose of 13,200 rad at a rate of 296 rad/min. resulted in a sedimentation increase of 8%. Actual sewages were also investigated.nStudy of suspensions of a montmorillonite clay (bentonite) indicated that sedimentation was increased by 45% following exposure to a radiation dose of 110,000 rad. Study of dispursions of this clay indicated that irradiation had altered the "double layer" char acteristics of the colloid.