title: Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) generated from lignite-fired power plants in Kosovo.
abstract: The energy production in Kosovo depends primarily on lignite-fired power plants. During coal combustion, huge amounts of fly ash and bottom ash are generated, which may result in enriched natural radionuclides; therefore, these radionuclides need to be investigated to identify the possible processes that may lead to the radiological exposure of workers and the local population. Lignite samples and NORMs of fly ash and bottom ash generated in lignite-fired power plants in Kosovo are analyzed using a gamma-ray spectrometry method for the activity concentration of natural radionuclides. The average activity concentrations of (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th in lignite are found to be 36 ± 8 Bq kg(-1), 9 ± 1 Bq kg(-1) and 9 ± 3 Bq kg(-1), respectively. Indications on the occurrence and geochemical behavior of uranium in the lignite matrix are suggested. The activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in fly ash and bottom ash samples are found to be concentrated from 3 to 5 times that of the feeding lignite. The external gamma-ray absorbed dose rate and the activity concentration index are calculated to assess the radiological hazard arising from ash disposal and recycling in the cement industry.
authors.affiliation: Kosovo Agency for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (KARPNS), Office of the Prime Minister, Ish-Gërmia, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hasani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Pristina "Hasan Prishtina", Bregu i Diellit, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shala
authors.affiliation: Legnaro National Laboratory, National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Via dell'Università, 2, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: xhixha@fe.infn.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xhixha
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat, 1, 44100 Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Xhixha
authors.affiliation: Radiation Protection Service, Institute of Occupational Health, Pristina-Obiliq 7th km, 15000 Obiliq, Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hodolli
authors.affiliation: Radiation Protection Service, Institute of Occupational Health, Pristina-Obiliq 7th km, 15000 Obiliq, Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadiri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics, Qesarakë, P.O.Box 85 Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bylyku
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Nuclear Physics, Qesarakë, P.O.Box 85 Tirana, Albania.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cfarku
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D001417:Background Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D060729:Coal Ash / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D063826:Kosovo; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011210:Power Plants; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash
keywords: Bottom ash; Coal fired power plant; Fly ash; HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry; Lignite; Naturally occurring radioactive material