Radium Accumulation and Radiometric Assessment of Filtration Membranes in Reverse Osmosis Desalination Systems for Groundwater in Semi-Arid Regions

Décio Cavalcanti Guerra; José Araújo dos Santos Júnior; Marcela Ferreira Marques de Oliveira; Romilton dos Santos Amaral; Zahily Herrero Fernández; Josineide Marques do Nascimento Santos; Mariana Brayner Cavalcante Freire Bezerra; Francisca Assis de Melo; Jussiê Soares da Rocha; Artur Paiva Coutinho; Jairo Dias Bezerra

doi:10.15392/2319-0612.2026.3064

Authors

Décio Cavalcanti Guerra Federal University of Pernambuco
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Investigation
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Funding Acquisition
José Araújo dos Santos Júnior UFPE , Federal University of Pernambuco
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Investigation
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
- Funding Acquisition
Marcela Ferreira Marques de Oliveira Federal University of Pernambuco
- Conceptualization
- Data Curation
- Funding Acquisition
- Investigation
- Writing – Original Draft Preparation
Romilton dos Santos Amaral Federal University of Pernambuco
- Investigation
- Funding Acquisition
- Supervision
Zahily Herrero Fernández Federal University of Pernambuco
- Investigation
- Validation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Josineide Marques do Nascimento Santos Federal University of Pernambuco
- Investigation
- Writing – Review & Editing
- Funding Acquisition
- Validation
Mariana Brayner Cavalcante Freire Bezerra Federal University of Pernambuco
- Investigation
- Funding Acquisition
- Supervision
Francisca Assis de Melo Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
- Investigation
- Validation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Jussiê Soares da Rocha Instituto Federal do Maranhão , Federal University of Pernambuco
- Writing – Review & Editing
- Validation
Artur Paiva Coutinho Federal University of Pernambuco
- Validation
- Writing – Review & Editing
Jairo Dias Bezerra Federal University of Pernambuco
- Writing – Review & Editing
- Visualization

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/2319-0612.2026.3064

Keywords:

desalination, reverse osmosis, filtration membranes, radium, radioprotection

Abstract

Water scarcity in the Brazilian semi-arid region makes desalination via reverse osmosis a strategic solution for rural community water supply. However, the interaction of groundwater with geological formations rich in uranium and thorium minerals can favor the natural occurrence of radionuclides, especially radium, in desalination systems. During operation, filtration membranes act as efficient physical barriers, retaining these radionuclides and, upon reaching the end of their service life, generating radiologically significant waste. This study evaluated the presence of the isotopes ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra in filtering elements from desalination systems installed in the municipality of Riacho das Almas, Pernambuco, Brazil, and the potential environmental and radiological impacts associated with them. Filters collected from seven wells were calcined and analyzed by gamma spectrometry. ²²⁶Ra activities ranged from 0.33 to 7.08 Bq/g, with two wells showing values above the 1 Bq/g limit established by the National Nuclear Energy Commission, and ²²⁸Ra was not detected. The results confirm the efficiency of membranes in Ra retention but highlight the need for specific protocols to safely manage and dispose of this waste and mitigate occupational and environmental risks.

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Author Biographies

Décio Cavalcanti Guerra, Federal University of Pernambuco

Mestre em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares.
José Araújo dos Santos Júnior, UFPE, Federal University of Pernambuco

Estudos dosimétricos; modelagem; química das radiações ionizantes; proteção radiológica; instrumentação nuclear; química; radioquímica; dosimetria ambiental; radioecologia.
Marcela Ferreira Marques de Oliveira, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutora em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares.
Romilton dos Santos Amaral, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutor em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares, professor titular da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.
Zahily Herrero Fernández, Federal University of Pernambuco

Radioquímica, Doutora em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares, Pós-Doutoranda na UFPE/CNPq.
Josineide Marques do Nascimento Santos, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutora em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares.
Mariana Brayner Cavalcante Freire Bezerra, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutora em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares, Professora da UFPE.
Francisca Assis de Melo, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Tecnóloga em Radiologia e mestre.
Jussiê Soares da Rocha, Instituto Federal do Maranhão, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutor em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares, Professor do Instituto Federal do Maranhão.
Artur Paiva Coutinho, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutorado em Engenharia Civil, professora da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.
Jairo Dias Bezerra, Federal University of Pernambuco

Doutor em Tecnologias Energéticas e Nucleares.

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