title: Radioactive characterization of the main materials involved in the titanium dioxide production process and their environmental radiological impact.
abstract: A study about the distribution of several radionuclides from the uranium and the thorium series radionuclides along the production process of a typical NORM industry devoted to the production of titanium dioxide has been performed. With this end the activity concentrations in raw materials, final product, co-products, and wastes of the production process have been determined by both gamma-ray and alpha-particle spectrometry. The main raw material used in the studied process (ilmenite) presents activity concentrations of around 300 Bq kg(-1) for Th-series radionuclides and 100 Bq kg(-1) for the U-series ones. These radionuclides in the industrial process are distributed in the different steps of the production process according mostly to the chemical behaviour of each radioelement, following different routes. As an example, most of the radium remains associated with the un-dissolved material waste, with activity concentrations around 3 kBq kg(-1) of (228)Ra and around 1 kBq kg(-1) of (226)Ra, while the final commercial products (TiO2 pigments and co-products) contain negligible amounts of radioactivity. The obtained results have allowed assessing the possible public radiological impact associated with the use of the products and co-products obtained in this type of industry, as well as the environmental radiological impact associated with the solid residues and liquid generated discharges.
authors: Grupo Física Nuclear Aplicada, Departamento Física Aplicada II, Universidad de Sevilla, E.T.S.A., Avenida Reina Mercedes, 241012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mantero
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Gazquez
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Bolivar
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Garcia-Tenorio
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vaca
mesh_terms: D002617:Chemical Industry; D004777:Environment; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011868:Radioisotopes; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium