Assessment of the radiological impact of coal utilization. I. Preliminary studies on Western coal. [Western USA; radionuclide impurities]

Technical Report · Mon Feb 12 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6447060· OSTI ID:6447060

Styron, C. E.; Casella, V. R.; Farmer, B. M.; Hopkins, L. C.; Jenkins, P. H.; Phillips, C. A.; Robinson, B.

It was the purpose of this project to broadly survey pathways of radionuclides in the coal fuel cycle, identifying critical questions and providing direction for subsequent, definitive studies of radionuclides in coal and the technological enhancement of concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides through use of this coal. Western coal was selected for study because of its prominence in the National Energy Plan. Specific objectives were to: investigate the fate of radionuclides in the coal fuel cycle and, where possible, delineate the scope of the potential environmental and human health problem associated with radionuclides in coal; compile and evaluate data for uranium-238, uranium-234, lead-210, polonium-210, and thorium-230 in coal; study the release, fate, and accumulation of radionuclides from a power plant burning Western coal; and assess the possible need for additional control technology or standards. Results indicate that concentration of radionuclides in coal from Western mines varies widely, both within and between mines similar to other minor and trace constituents. The concentration of radionuclides in Western coal being mined today is roughly comparable to that of Eastern coal and is slightly below the average for all U.S. coal. A radionuclide balance for a power plant indicated that over 80% of uranium-234, uranium-238, and lead-210 present in the feed coal remained with the fly ash. Thus, collection of fly ash by electrostatic precipitators is of value in controlling radionuclide emissions. An additional 8 to 9% of the radionuclidesremained with bottom ash. Since over 90% of uranium-234, uranium-238, and lead-210 in feed coal remains with bottom ash and fly ash, it is suggested that the possible migration of radionuclides--particularly radon-222 which decays to lead-210 and polonium-210--from the ash pond, warrants further study.

• Research Organization: Mound Facility, Miamisburg, OH (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0053
• OSTI ID: 6447060
• Report Number(s): MLM-2514
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010600* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Properties & Composition
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas & Particulate Emissions
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ASHES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COAL
DATA
DATA FORMS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
EMISSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUE GAS
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
HEAVY NUCLEI
INFORMATION
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
PONDS
POWER PLANTS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
RESIDUES
SAMPLING
SOILS
TABLES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THORIUM 230
THORIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES