Characterization of the TE-NORM waste associated with oil and natural gas production in Abu Rudeis, Egypt.
The present study was conducted to characterize the Technically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TE-NORM) waste generated from oil and gas production. The waste was characterized by means of dry screening solid fractionation, X-ray analysis (XRF and XRD) and gamma-ray spectrometry. Sediment of the TE-NORM waste was fractionated into ten fractions with particle sizes varying from less than 100 microm to more than 3 mm. The results showed that the TE-NORM waste contains mainly radionuclides of the 238U, 235U and 232Th series. The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra (of U-series), 228Ra (of Th-series) and 40K in the waste samples before fractionation (i.e. 3 mm) were found to amount to 68.9, 24 and 1.3 Bq/g (dry weight), respectively. After dry fractionation, the activity concentrations were widely distributed and enriched in certain fractions. This represented a 1.48 and 1.82-fold enrichment of 226Ra and 228Ra, respectively, in fraction F8 (2.0-2.5 mm) over those in bulk TE-NORM waste samples. The activity ratios of 238U/226Ra, 210Pb/226Ra, 223Ra/226Ra and 228Ra/224Ra were calculated and evaluated. Activity of the most hazardous radionuclide 226Ra was found to be higher than the exemption levels established by IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency, 1994. International Basic Safety Standards for the Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the Safety of Radiation Sources. GOV/2715/94, Vienna]. The radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq), radon (222Rn) emanation coefficient (EC) and absorbed dose rate (Dgammar) were estimated and these are further discussed.
El Afifi
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EM
Analytical Chemistry Department, Hot Laboratories Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Post Office No. 13759, Cairo, Egypt. eel_afifi@hotmail.com
Awwad
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D004534:Egypt; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010316:Particle Size; D010578:Petroleum; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008670:Metals; D010578:Petroleum; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011868:Radioisotopes