The use of ionizing radiation to achieve some desired effect on silica gel, applicable to the adsorption of radionuclides has been investigated as a function of the dose-rate over a wide range of doses, in experiments with strongly alkaline aqueous solutions containing an excess of UO 22+ relative to trace concentrations of88Y,103Ru,134Cs and141Ce. The results obtained revealed that γ-irradiation of silica gel was reproduced with an uptake comparable to that measured for the unirradiated-silica gel. Radiation resistance is strongly influenced by the basic macromolecular structure, the presence of water, and the particular environmental exposure conditions.