Study of natural radioactivity and trace-element content capable of generating long-lived γ-ray activity in cements

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 325; no. 3; pp. 773 - 779
• Main Authors: Shanbhag, A. A., Paul, Sabyasachi, Ravi, Prabhath K., Joshi, V. M., Joshi, D. S., Jagatap, B. N., Kulkarni, M. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accelerators; Cement; Cements; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Low level radioactive wastes; Natural radioactivity; Neutrons; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Nuclear reactors; Physical Chemistry; Radioisotopes; Radium 226; Shielding; Trace elements; Trace elements; Natural radioactivity; Concrete shield; Accelerators; Decommissioning; Cement
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-020-07144-2

Cement is an important component of concrete used as a shielding material in nuclear accelerators and reactors. Hence cement samples should be analysed for the presence of certain trace elements that may get activated by neutrons emitted during the production of radioisotopes in an accelerator, so as to minimize the low level radioactive waste to be handled during decommissioning. With this motivation the present work was undertaken and 44 samples of five broad classes of cements were analysed for natural radioactivity (
226
Ra,
232
Th &
40
K) and trace elements capable of generating long lived gamma radioactivity due to neutron activation.