Behavior of Th-isotopes along the pigment TiO2 industrial production process

 

Authors
G?zquez Gonz?lez, Manuel Jes?s
Format
Article
Status
publishedVersion
Description

The present study, conducted initially to characterize from radiological point of view, the raw materials (ilmenite and titanium slag), co-products (copperas and sulfafer), wastes (red gypsum and ilmenite mud) and final product (TiO2) used/generated along the titanium dioxide industry, located in the province of Huelva, has allowed in addition a detailed study of the routes followed by several radionuclides, with special emphasis on Th-isotopes, throughout the industrial process. This pigment TiO2 industry works by the ?sulphate method?, which is a typical NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials) industry. The raw material (ilmenite, mainly formed by FeTiO3), contains around 100 Bq kg-1 of U-series radionuclides, and around 400 Bq kg-1 from the Th-series ones. Along the industrial process, the secular equilibrium for the uranium and thorium series existing in the raw material is broken, and then the radionuclides are distributed/accumulated in the different materials according to their chemical behaviors. Therefore, the main goal of this study has been to gain basic information of the behavior of Th-isotopes in comparison with the behaviour of other natural radionuclides along the industrial process and, with basis in the information gained, to analyze the future potential environmental impact of co-products and wastes obtained in the industrial process. In this sense, it is important to note that some of the co-products (copperas and sulfafer) are currently used in fields such as, agriculture, fertilizers, etc.
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Publication Year
2015
Language
eng
Topic
BEHAVIOR
TH-ISOTOPES
ALONG
TI02
Repository
Repositorio SENESCYT
Get full text
http://repositorio.educacionsuperior.gob.ec/handle/28000/3013
Rights
openAccess
License
closedAccess