Abstract
The level and the behavior of the naturally occurring primordial radionuclides 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, 232Th, 228Ra and 40K in coals and fly ashes are described. The activity concentrations of the examined coals and originated from coal mines in Greece ranged from 117 to 435 Bq·kg−1 for 238U, from 44 to 255 Bq·kg−1 for 226Ra, from 59 to 205 Bq·kg−1 for 210Pb, from 9 to 41 Bq·kg−1 for 228Ra and from 59 to 227 Bq·kg−1 for 40K. These levels are comparable to those appeared in coals of different countries worldwide. The activity concentrations of the examined fly ashes and produced in coal-fired power plants in Greece ranged from 263 to 950 Bq·kg−1 for 238U, from 142 to 605 Bq·kg−1 for 226Ra, from 133 to 428 Bq·kg−1 for 210Pb, from 27 to 68 Bq·kg−1 for 228Ra and from 204 to 382 Bq·kg−1 for 40K. The results showed that there is an enrichment of the radionuclides in fly ash relative to the input coal during the combustion process. The enrichment factors (EF) ranged from 0.60 to 0.76 for 238U, from 0.69 to 1.07 for 226Ra, from 0.57 to 0.75 for 210Pb, from 0.86 to 1.11 for 228Ra and from 0.95 to 1.10 for 40K.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. Papastefanou, S. Charalambous, Z. Naturforsch., 43a (1979) 533.
H. L. Beck, C. V. Gogolak, K. M. Miller, W. M. Lowder, Perturbations on the Natural Radiation Environment, Technical Information Center/U.S. Department of Energy, CONF-780422, Vol. 2, NTIS/U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161, p. 1521.
C. Papastefanou, S. Charalambous, Health Phys., 46 (1984) 293.
M. Manolopoulou, A Radioecological Study of the Coal Power Plant Environment, Ph. D. Thesis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece, 1990, p. 178.
D. G. Coles, R. C. Ragaini, J. M. Ondov, Environ. Sci. Technol., 12 (1978) 442.
UNSCEAR, Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, UNSCEAR Report 2000, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Vol. I, United Nations, New York, 2000.
J. Tomczynska, K. Blaton-Albicka, J. Pensko, D. Fugiel, The Results of Measurements of the Natural Radionuclides in Coal Power Plants Wastes and Light Concrete Samples, Report RPD/INR, Radiation Protection, Department, Institute of Nuclear Research, Swierk, Poland, 1980, p. 9.
H. Bem, P. Wieczorkowski, M. Buzdanowski, J. Environ. Radioact., 61 (2002) 191.
U. C. Mishra, B. Y. Lalit, T. V. Ramachandran, Relative radiation hazards of coal based and nuclear power plants in India. Proc. 6th Intern. Radiation Protection Association Congress, May 7–12, W. Berlin, Vol. I, 1984, p. 537.
D. E. Barber, H. R. Giorgio, Health Phys., 32 (1977) 83.
M. M. Calvo, Consideraciones sobre el papel que desempenan las sustancias organicas naturals de character humico en la concentracion del uranio, Formation of Uranium Ore Deposits, Report IAEA-SM-183/33, 1974, p. 442.
D. G. Coles, R. C. Ragaini, J. M. Ondov, G. L. Fischer, D. Silberman, B. A. Prentice, Environ. Sci. Technol., 13 (1979) 455.
J. W. Kaakinen, R. M. Jordan, M. H. Lawasani, R. E. West, Environ. Sci. Technol., 9 (1975) 862.
J. O. Corbett, Radiat. Prot. Dosim., 4 (1983) 5.
J. P. Mcbride, R. E. Moore, J. P. Witherspoon, R. E. Blanco, Science, 202 (1978) 1045.
A. Nakaoka, M. Fukushima, S. Takagi, Health Phys., 47 (1984) 407.
B. L. Tracy, F. A. Prantl, J. Environ. Radioact., 2 (1985) 145.
J. J. Fardy, G. D. Mcorist, Y. I. Farras, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 133 (1989) 217.
M. C. Alvarez, L. Garzon, Health Phys., 57 (1989) 765.
P. Hayumbu, M. B. Zaman, S. S. Munsanjie, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 201 (1995) 333.
J. Font, M. Casas, R. Forteza, V. Cerda, F. Garcias, J. Environ. Sci. Health, A28 (1993) 2061.
D. H. Klein, A. W. Andren, J. A. Carter, J. F. Emery, C. Feldman, W. Fulkerson, W. S. Lyon, J. C. Ogle, Y. Talmi, R. I. van Hook, N. Bolton, Environ. Sci. Technol., 9 (1975) 973.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Papastefanou, C. Radioactivity of coals and fly ashes. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 275, 29–35 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-006-6966-1
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-006-6966-1