Evaluation of radionuclide contamination of soil, coal ash and zeolitic materials from Figueira Thermoelectric Power Plant

Denise Alves Fungaro; Denise Alves Fungaro; Paulo Sergio Silva; Felipe Campello; Caio Silva Miranda; Juliana Izidoro

doi:10.15392/bjrs.v7i2A.606

Authors

Denise Alves Fungaro Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
Denise Alves Fungaro Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
Paulo Sergio Silva Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
Felipe Campello Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
Caio Silva Miranda Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
Juliana Izidoro Nuclear and Energy Research Institute

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v7i2A.606

Keywords:

soil, coal, coal ash

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis and gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ra, ²¹⁰Pb, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K contents in feed pulverized coal, bottom ash, fly ash from cyclone and baghouse filters, zeolites synthesized from the ashes and two different soil samples. All the samples used in the study was collected at Figueira thermoelectric power plant, located in the city of Figueira, Paraná State, which coal presents a significant amount of uranium concentration. The natural radionuclide concentrations in pulverized coal were 4216 Bq kg^–1for ²³⁸U, 180 Bq kg^–1for ²²⁶Ra, 27 Bq kg^–1for ²²⁸Ra, 28 Bq kg^–1 for ²³²Th and 192 Bq kg^–1 for ⁴⁰K.

The ashes fraction presented concentrations ranging from 683.5 to 1479 Bq kg^–1for ²³⁸U, from 484 to 1086 Bq kg^–1for ²²⁶Ra, from 291 to 1891 Bq kg^–1for ²¹⁰Pb, from 67 to 111 Bq kg^–1for ²²⁸Ra, from 80 to 87 Bq kg^–1 for ²³²Th and from 489 to 718 Bq kg^–1 for ⁴⁰K. Similar ranges were observed for zeolites. The activity concentration of ²³⁸U was higher than worldwide average concentration for all samples. The concentration of the uranium series found in the ashes were lower than the values observed in similar studies carried out 10 years ago and under the limit adopted by the Brazilian guideline (CNEN-NN-4.01). Nevertheless, the concentrations of this specific area are higher than others coal mines and thermoelectric power plants in and out of Brazil, so it is advisable to evaluate the environmental impact of the installation.

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