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Determination of the radon emanation fraction from phosphogypsum using LSC

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Abstract

A simple method for the determination of the radon emanation fraction was studied using a liquid scintillation counter. The radon activity of the gaseous phase in a closed container was measured 1 day and 35 days after sealing and used to calculate the radon emanation fraction. Radon leakage from the container was investigated using a 226Ra radioactive standard solution (SRM4967, NIST) to plot a radon growth curve. The method was applied to materials that typically contain a high level of radium, such as phosphogypsum, phosphate fertilizer and a rock sample. The effect of temperature on the radon emanation fraction from the materials was investigated at 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 °C. It was found that there is a linear correlation (R 2 = 0.746 − 0.946) between temperature and the emanation fraction. Within the temperature range, the radon emanation fractions were 0.241–0.466 for phosphogypsum, 0.225–0.351 for phosphate fertilizer and 0.154–0.351 for the rock sample.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant for basic research project from the Korea Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources funded by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) of Korea. The authors would like to thank MKE for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 92 Gwahang-no, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Korea

    Kil Yong Lee, Soo Young Cho, Yoon Yeol Yoon & Young Nam Jang

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  1. Kil Yong Lee
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  2. Soo Young Cho
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  3. Yoon Yeol Yoon
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  4. Young Nam Jang
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Correspondence to Kil Yong Lee.

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Lee, K.Y., Cho, S.Y., Yoon, Y.Y. et al. Determination of the radon emanation fraction from phosphogypsum using LSC. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 291, 197–200 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1306-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-011-1306-5

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