title: Radiological aspects of the usability of red mud as building material additive.
abstract: Several researchers have examined and achieved favourable results in connection with the building industry's use of red mud extracted in large quantities from the processing of bauxite. These days more and more precedence is being given to limiting the radiological dose to the population. In this study carried out in Hungary, the use of red mud, bauxite, and clay additives recommended for the production of special cements, were examined from a radiological aspect. (226)Ra and (232)Th activity concentrations measured in Hungarian bauxite, red mud and clay samples were significantly similar with the levels for such raw materials mentioned in international literature. Taking radiation protection aspects into consideration, none of these products can be directly used for building construction. Taking Hungarian and international values into consideration, a small amount of red mud, not exceeding 15% could be used for brick production, for example as a colouring material. However, beyond this amount the standards for building materials would not be met. For the production of cements an even stricter limit needs to be determined when both bauxite and red mud are used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiochemistry, University of Pannonia, P.O. Box 158, 8201 Veszprém, Hungary.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Somlai
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jobbágy
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tarján
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovács
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000032:analysis; D000077215:Clay; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D006814:Hungary; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D011883:Radium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011197:Potassium Radioisotopes; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D013910:Thorium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D000077215:Clay; D011883:Radium