Measurement of radon exhalation rate and radiation doses in fly ash samples

Abstract

Abstract Coal based thermal power plants contribute about ~ 72% of the power generation in India. Indian coal is of bituminous type, having a high ash content with 55–60% ash. Due to considerable environmental importance the collected fly ash has become a subject of worldwide interest in recent years. In the present study radon exhalation rate and the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclides in fly ash samples from Kasimpur Thermal Power Plant, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India have been measured by ‘Sealed Can technique’ using LR-115 type II detectors and a low-level NaI (Tl)- based gamma-ray spectrometer, respectively. Radon exhalation rate has been found to vary from 57.1 ± 5.3 to 119.4 ± 7.7 mBq m−2 h−1 with an average value of 87.3 ± 5.8 mBq m−2 h−1. Activity concentration of 226Ra ranged from 20.0 ± 8.5 to 30.0 ± 9.7 Bq kg−1 with an average value 23.4 ± 9.0 Bq kg−1, 232Th ranged from 17.0 ± 9.9 to 69.0 ± 13.8 Bq kg−1 with an average value of 46.5 ± 12.1 Bq kg−1 and 40K ranged from 130.0 ± 7.2 to 332.0 ± 11.1 Bq kg−1 with an average value of 177.0 ± 8.1 Bq kg−1.