EVALUATION OF A METHOD OF ESTIMATING RADON REMOVAL FROM GROUNDWATER BY MEASURING DISSOLVED-OXYGEN

A method for estimating the efficiency of radon removal from groundwat er by measuring the degree of saturation of the water by atmospheric o xygen was developed. The method is based on the fact that the desorpti on of radon and the absorption of oxygen are symmetrical processes and have a common physical background in interfacial mass transfer betwee n gas and liquid phase. The theoretical relationship was verified expe rimentally on a pilot-plant device. It was shown that the method is si mple, reliable and flexible. Relatively complex measurement of radon a ctivity is replaced by a simple and quick measurement of the concentra tion of dissolved oxygen in water.