Red mud is the waste from alumina production using Bayer technology, which is considered to be a serious environmental pollutant (NORM). Therefore, the study of red mud reuse and radiation safety assessment has long been considered by scientists. In this paper, a comprehensive method for manufacturing adsorbents and coagulants from Vietnamese red mud in a closed loop without accompanying...
A primary challenge for industry today is the safe management and disposal of large volumes of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM; also called TENORM, Technologically Enhanced NORM) contaminated waste generated from various industrial activities, including upstream petroleum operations. NORM flows to the surface in a mixture with oil, gas, or water during production operations and...
This study was mainly focused on the explication of adsorption and desorption mechanisms for the removal of thorium and uranium from aqueous solution by nonwoven polyethylene/polypropylene (NWPP) fiber based adsorbent. The NNPP were grafted with primary amine group by radiation induced graft polymerization technique. The effect of pH, contact time, initial concentration and grafting yield onto...
Typically, NORM generated by the oil and gas industry present low or intermediate radiation levels. Known challenges for its correct management are: (1) the huge volume generated; (2) the risks posed by the associated material; and (3) the unpredictability of its accumulation in the production process and topside equipment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicates that the...
Currently Indonesia are in pilot project phase extraction of rare earths from tin sludge-rich deposits which conducted in PT TIMAH, Bangka island, the own government company cooperation with BATAN, expecting to produce rare earth with industrial grade. The design of pilot plant is critical aspect for review and assessment, that it must be in minimum radioactive concentrate release to...
NORM in the oil and gas industry can cause external and internal exposure of workers and other persons during and after production as a result of accumulations of gamma emitting radionuclides, particularly during maintenance, transport of waste and contaminated equipment, decontamination of equipment, and the processing and disposal of waste. In this study sludge cleaned and collected from...
Indonesia is one of the major world’s tin producer countries. The tin exploration, mining, and processing activities also generating waste and by-products containing enhanced natural radioactivity. The final tin slag from the smelting process remains an issue to the environmental problem due to it has potential long-term hazards. It comprises long-lived radionuclides with relatively high...
Didasi W. Shao, Lazaro S.P. Busagala, Firmi P. Banzi, Shovi F. Sawe and Salehe M. Gurisha.
Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission; P.O. Box 743, Arusha, Tanzania
Abstract
Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) wastes often contain high level of radioactivity caused by radionuclides of uranium and thorium series. NORM wastes in United Republic of Tanzania are found in the tailings...
Development of industries such as oil and gas industry, mining and other chemical industries has led to a remarkable increase of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) discharge to the environment. In this regard, required safety assessment, controls and decontamination are of great importance from the viewpoint of environmental considerations, and radiation protection of public and...
In the United States of America, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the annual estimation of amount of NORM waste generated by oil production was, approximately, 260000 tons of produced water, sludges, scales, contaminated equipment, etc. to be disposed in a final disposal.
The oil production in Brazil (September 2019) was estimated around 3 million barrels per day, that...
Vietnam has a large agricultural industry and is producing considerable amounts of phospahte fertilizer domestically. Approximately 1,000,000 tons NORM-phosphogypsum byproduct occure in Vietnam from domestic phosphate rock processing to mineral fertilizer at the DinhVu plant every year. This study presents the main constituent of these phosphogypsum particles (PPGS) provided by Dinh Vu DAP...
This paper presents the study of a geospatial approach for improving the NORM disposal suitability siting assessment in a growing urban environment. The increasing trend of land use and population growth, as well as the absolute amounts of NORM, accumulated in Malaysia substantially reflecting lower chances selection of disposal or storage NORM. NORM associated with industrial activities...
Production of iodine from deep underground saline water is one of the industries that may lead to increase of natural radioactive materials (NORM) and have received little attention so far. Because of the existence of saline water in depth of 600 to 800 m, iodine producing industries are developed in the north-east of Iran, and it is important to consider NORM management programs in advance to...
Morocco is after China the second largest phosphate rock producing country in the world and controls nearly one fourth of all phosphate rock reserves worldwide. During phosphate rock processing with the wet-phosphoric acid (WPA) process considerable amounts of phosphogypsum are produced. For every ton phosphoric acid roughly 5 tons phosphogypsum are produced. Phosphogypsum shows low-levels of...
The Sierra Pintada uranium mine operated for 23 years, during which developed the mining and treatment of uranium ore in order to obtain uranium concentrate or yellow cake (ammonium diuranate) as a final product. The production stopped in 1997 for economic reasons, having extracted only 20% of the ore reserves. During these years of operation, environmental liabilities were generated and...
Management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials resulting from Mining activities in Jos, North-Central Nigeria. Experience and Challenges
Abstract
Radioactivity and radiation are natural phenomena. We are constantly exposed to natural radiation and radioactivity in our everyday life; numerous industrial processes generate wastes that concentrate various elements, including those...
Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is regarded as a radioactive material without a significant amount of radionuclides than those that occur naturally. NORM are primarily daughters of uranium (U-238) and thorium (Th-232) naturally present in subsurface geologic formations. As a result, oil and gas extraction; mining and processing of phosphate minerals, mineral sands, gold bearing...
Abstract. To protect the environment and public health and promote the sustainable development of mineral resources associated radioactivity (uranium and thorium)，Ministry of Ecological Environment of the People's Republic of China has published the directory of radiation environment supervision and management for the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources, which is used to regulate...
Phosphogypsum (PG) is classified as a Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) residue of the phosphate fertilizer industry; one possible application of this residue is in agriculture, as a soil conditioner. Several studies showed that the application of PG can result in an increase of agriculture productivity. However, PG presents in its composition radionuclides of the natural U and...
In Malaysia, the control limit for radionuclides in Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) are 1Bq/g for U-238 and Th-232 respectively and 10 Bq/g for K-40. Above these control limits, NORM is control as radioactive materials and subjected to the license by the regulatory body. Industries involving with NORM include the rare earth extracted plant that are using lanthanide...
Abstract
The extent of the health effects associated with exposure to the norm depends on the amount of energy accompanying the radiation, exposure time, absorbed dose as well as the exposed organ. Exposure to the relatively low and medium radiation levels resulting from the (NORM) does not, of course, result in the damage caused by the high levels of radiation from man-made materials. The...
The Prydniprovsky Chemical Plant (PChP) was one of the largest uranium ore processing plants in Europe operating from 1948-1992. In total at this site and at the other surrounding areas about 120 million tons of mine tailings, including residues from uranium extraction and remaining ore materials are accumulated. The 120 million tons of tailing materials can roughly be characterized into: (1)...
NORM is often found in steel tubes used in oil and drilling operations from O&G industry. The scale, which contains amounts of radio (Ra), is accumulated in pipes. When the metal is discarded without proper care, it can end up in a scrap mill. The radioactive material associated with scrap metal, when melted, can cause negative health effects, as well as economic and public acceptance problems...
ABCTRACT
This paper presents the Philippine experience with respect to managing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) solid waste produced by the Philippine phosphate, and electricity generating industries using coal and geothermal energy. The three main residues in these NORM industries are phosphogypsum, fly ash/bottom ash and scales respectively, are either reused or they...
Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in the waste from the oil and gas industry has been object of concern in the last decades. This NORM waste occurs by precipitation or incorporation of the radionuclides in the oil sludge, pipe cleaning, scales inside pipes, vessels, heat exchanger, pieces of pumps, and others. Waste material contaminated with enhanced levels of NORM has to be...
Naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) accumulated in gas and oil production systems in the form of scale and sludge deposit during the production process ، causes the potential radiation risk to workers, the general public and the environment if appropriate measures are not taken .The radionuclide identified in gas and oil streams belong to the decay chains of the naturally...
NORM wastes, especially those originating from the oil and gas industry, often also contain other contaminants such as oil and mercury. This mixture poses challenges for transport, treatment, and safe final disposal. As a result, there are few disposal solutions for this waste stream leading to NORM wastes currently being stored in numerous temporary storage facilities. As a consequence,...
Phosphoric acid (PA) produced from phosphate rocks by the wet-acid process using sulphuric acid attack accounts for over 90% of phosphate fertilizer production worldwide. Accordingly, the solid wastes produced as a by-product, phosphogypsum (PG) from these processes increase and accumulate around the world. PG is composed mainly of gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O) and contains some impurities of...
Phosphate rocks in Jordan contain rare earth elements (REEs) as well as radioactive natural uranium. Both the rare earths naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) transfer in certain percentages to the phosphogypsum a by-product in phosphate rock processing to fertilizer using the wet-phosphoric acid (WPA) process. At present the phosphogypsum by-product is stacked near the phosphate...
Processing of phosphate rock concentrates the naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in the phosphate rocks to a degree that they may pose risks to humans and the environment. The concentration of radionuclides such as uranium (U) and/or thorium (Th) series and their respective decay products during phosphate rock processing results in technically enhanced – naturally occurring...
The Dinh Vu phosphate fertilizer plant in Vietnam produces approximately 1 million ton phosphogypsum (PG) every year. PG contains low concentrations of radioactive material so that it has to be considered a TE-NORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material) that requires active management or further treatment before it can be used as fertilizer supplement, building...
There are many sustainable solutions for fly ash (as NORM- Natural Occurring Radioactive Materials) valorisation from thermal power plants. The latest literature reports that fly ash can be successfully used in cement, concrete, bricks, aggregates, glass-ceramics, zeolites, absorbents, geo-polymers, but its potential utilization due to the new technologies nowadays are wider. For instance, fly...
In Brazil, the normative responsibility on the NORM subject belongs to CNEN - National Commission of Nuclear Energy. In this country, no practice to address this kind of waste is currently allowed, so NORM wastes are stored on the platforms, causing enormous damage to the petroleum industry. Therefore, in view of this technological impasse, the viability of an innovative treatment that meets...
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL (NORM) IN INDUSTRY, 19 – 23 OCTOBER 2020
RADIOACTIVITY CONCENTRATIONS IN MINES, ZAMBIA
A.Chilulua
aRadiation Protection Authority(RPA), P.O Box 50002, Lusaka
Email address:abigailsimwinga2016@gmail.com
Abstract
The mining and processing of copper concentrates in Zambia generates a variety of waste...
The radiological risks associated with oil and gas wastes generated from oil and gas exploration in Nigeria were assessed. Soil samples were collected from settlements near oil and gas production sites. Radium content CRa in the sample was determined by high-resolution γ-spectroscopy. While Uranium and Thorium are not soluble in water, their radioactive decay product, radium and some its decay...
The present study has determined the radiation risks generated from using oil produced water containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) to produce sodium chloride by evaporation and crystallization processes. The study showed that radium (the main nuclide) is precipitated and concentrated in the evaporation ponds and is not expected to be present in other phases of the project...
Monazite is a side mineral in the tin mining process in Bangka Island and categorized as waste. This material consists of thorium of 3-6% that can be converted to uranium 233 using radiative captured reaction. This is a special nuclear materials (SNM) that should be protected and monazite become SNM precursor. Some questions arise on accumulated monazite. Should monazite be protected from...
Bangka Island is the largest tin producer in Indonesia and number two in the world. Processing of tin ore in Bangka island will cause the spread of radioactive substances from associated minerals with high concentrations. One thing that needs attention is the final management of the TENORM waste from the process. From the survey results it was concluded that what remains a problem for the...
Summary
The aspects and impacts of the oil and gas exploration and production activity are managed and have a direct effect on production costs. Waste generation is one of the main aspects, requires the implementation of risk management plan and is under the control of several regulatory agencies (Energy, Environment, Radiological Protection, Health).
Presently, Brazil does not have...
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials(NORM) use in industry is gaining prominence in Kenya. NORM is mainly generated mainly from the oil and the building and construction industry. Even though great efforts are made towards effective and efficient management of NORM, challenges still abound.The NORM management is not so pronounced in the country and as such, robust strategies are required...
Adsorption has been proven as an effective process for the separation of metal ions, especially at relatively low concentration. However, conventional chelating polymer adsorbents suffer limitation of selectivity. Ion-imprinted polymer has been receiving great attention due to its selective recognition of targeted ion in solution via cavity imparted into the polymers. This research aims to...
B.D. Yoga, D. K. Sofia, E. Yuliati*
Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN),
Jakarta, Indonesia
Email: b.yoga@bapeten.go.id
As the fourth largest country in Asia, Indonesia is an agrarian country. Area of agricultural land and plantation in Indonesia reached 64,8 million ha. Therefore, the need for fertilizer in this country is very high. One type of fertilizers needed is NPK...
From 1982 to 1994, a licensed plant was operated to process monazite and xenotime ores to extract rare earth elements. NORM wastes with concentrations above background were recovered from the plant and stored at a long-term storage facility. From 2011 to 2014, the storage facility was decommissioned and all wastes were retrieved, stabilized and disposed of into a near-surface disposal facility...
We present, as example of NORM residues management in Italy, the practical approach adopted on the Gela (Sicily) site during urgent remediation operation of a large concrete decanter damaged by corrosion and atmospheric agents. For decades, the decanter had contained residues in two separate phases: about 700 tons of concentrated liquid phosphoric acid and several hundred tons of chemically...
The industrial processing of monazitic sands in Brazil began in 1942, by Indústrias Químicas Reunidas SA - Orquima, at the Santo Amaro Plant - USAM, in São Paulo, where the physical purification of zirconite, rutile and monazite was carried out, and there was subsequent chemical treatment of the monazite.
Orquima was nationalized in 1956, becaming an organ of the National Nuclear Energy...
The study was performed to estimate the effect of phosphogypsum (PG) on the physical and chemical soil properties and barley yields in arid area, for four successive seasons. The experiments were conducted at eight different locations in Khanasser valley, in Syria, with four replicates for each treatment. At each respective site, PG was applied in two rates, i.e. 20 and 40 t/ha; phosphate...
During the last decades, radioactive materials and radiation sources have been widely used in various fields such as energy production, industry, medicine, research, and agriculture. Various incidents and accidents could happen during these multi-field applications and would thus result in relatively large amounts of radioactive wastes and contaminated objects. Therefore, increasing attention...
The Witwatersrand gold deposits in South Africa contain significant amounts of uranium (U) – a fact that is also reflected in the mineralogical and chemical composition of their tailings. In contrast to many other mine sites, the presence of uranium in the Witwatersrand tailings has not only been recognised for some time, but over the last few decades it has also been seized as an economic...
