Partitioning of natural radionuclides in the waste streams of coal-fired utilities

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Health Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-198703000-00005· OSTI ID:6622435

Roeck, D R; Reavey, T C; Hardin, J M

Five coal-fired electric utility plants were sampled to determine radionuclide concentrations in all major process streams. The results, together with plant operating data, were used to track the following six naturally occurring radionuclides: /sup 238/U, /sup 226/Ra, /sup 210/Po, /sup 210/Pb, /sup 230/Th and /sup 232/Th. For each plant, radionuclide balances were computed and the amount and extent of volatilization and enrichment of any radionuclides in the stack effluent were determined. In general, most of the radioactivity was found in boiler bottom ash or particulate control equipment hopper ash; atmospheric emissions were quite small in comparison. Radionuclides in the stack effluent were not detected in the gaseous state and some (especially /sup 210/Po and /sup 210/Pb) were preferentially associated with the smallest fly-ash particles.

• Research Organization: Alliance Technologies Corp., Bedford, MA
• OSTI ID: 6622435
• Journal Information: Health Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Health Phys.; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN HLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
500300 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AEROSOL WASTES
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ASHES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LEAD 210
LEAD ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
NUCLEI
PARTICLE SIZE
POLLUTION
POLONIUM 210
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RESIDUES
SIZE
STACK DISPOSAL
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THORIUM 230
THORIUM 232
THORIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES