Techniques for chemical analysis of radionuclides in fly ash: an evaluation. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:5269902

Abel, K H

The objectives of this project are to: (a) describe and evaluate the analytical techniques for radionuclide measurements of coal and fly ash utilized during previous studies, (b) recommend a comprehensive set of procedures for future investigations, and (c) place in perspective the radionuclide emissions from coal combustion. Numerous measurement techniques, ranging from semi-quantitative to quantitative and from general to radionuclide-specific, have been applied during previous studies. These analytical measurement techniques are described and evaluated. The evaluation criteria included radionuclide specificity, potential for interferences, sensitivity, precision and accuracy. After evaluation of the various analytical alternatives, a recommended set of procedures for radionuclide quantification in coal and fly ash media is presented. The recommended procedures utilize a combination of gamma and x-ray spectrometry, along with radiochemical separations and alpha energy analysis to yield a complete radionuclide characterization with a typical analytical precision for an individual radionuclide on the order of +- 5 to 10%. The radionuclide concentrations in emitted ash, coal, and fly ash are placed in prespective by comparison with the concentrations occurring in natural crustal materials.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5269902
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EA-4728; ON: DE86015657
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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010800* -- Coal
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& Peat-- Waste Management
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDES
AEROSOL WASTES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
ASHES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLY ASH
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEI
POLONIUM
POTASSIUM
POWER PLANTS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
RESIDUES
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THORIUM
URANIUM
WASTES
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS