title: Behaviour mechanisms and correlation between lead (Pb) and its isotope (210)Pb in industrial residue as an indicator for waste characterization.
abstract: Total lead and (210)Pb concentrations were determined in various ash fractions (collected from two of the world's largest oil shale-fired power plants) by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gamma spectrometry. Results show a clear increase in total lead (values up to 193 ppm in filter ashes) and (210)Pb (values up to 148 Bq kg(-1) in filter ashes) concentrations in the ash fractions from the furnace towards the filter ashes. A strong positive linear correlation (Pearson's bivariate correlation remained between 0.86 and 0.99) was determined between total lead concentration (ppm) and (210)Pb activity concentration (Bq kg(-1)) within all the boilers under observation. The constant concentration ratio between total lead and (210)Pb remained around one (with minor exceptions), independent of the sampling location and the used combustion technology. The determined concentration ratio can be applicable as an indicative tool in waste material characterization. It also provides multiple additions to the general material characterization approach, by integrating radiological and elemental studies and providing an option to rapidly obtain initial indicative information about the residues. This in turn helps to generate the initial information to work out the next steps in waste material management.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physics, University of Tartu , Tartu , Estonia.
authors.forename: Taavi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaasma
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Geology, Tallinn University of Technology , Tallinn , Estonia.
authors.forename: Liidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bityukova
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physics, University of Tartu , Tartu , Estonia.
authors.forename: Madis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiisk
authors.affiliation: c Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ege University , İzmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Özden
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Physics, University of Tartu , Tartu , Estonia.
authors.forename: Alan Henry
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tkaczyk
mesh_terms: D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D007854:Lead
keywords: Fossil fuel power plants; hazardous waste; heavy metals; radionuclides; waste characterization