Preparation of Standard Source as a Petri Dish for Plant by Using 152Eu Element

Observed in the recent period, there is an urgent need to a prepare standard sources can be adopted in the research Iraqi universities and scientific Institutions, whether if these measurements for large sizes samples such as  Marinelli beaker , or small sizes such as a petri dish and the latter was not available as standard sources, which was the purpose of this work to prepare standard source with size of a petri dish for  plants  using 152Eu Isotope , that can be adopted in the experimental measurements.The prepared sample was measured in the first lab ( Department of physics/ college of education for pure science/Ibn Al-Haitham/University of Baghdad) and the second lab (Central Laboratories Directorate / nuclear research center at Tuwaitha) by using Gamma spectroscopy system with a high-purity germanium detector (HPGe). The specific activity of the prepared standard sample was calculated using an efficiency curve , which drawn by using the Monte Carlo Program . The results of the specific activity are equal to (1167.610Bq/kg) in first lab and (1081.94 Bq/kg) in second lab. It was noted there is good agreement between the results in the first and second lab, so the overall average of the specific activity adopted  was equal to (1124.7 Bq / kg)From this work, we can use this source to calculate the radioactivity for other radionuclide in small samples (plants), which is difficult to obtained in large quantities, through a calibration  spectrum for efficiency and energy of this prepared source. Keywords: petri dish, prepare standard source, Gamma spectroscopy, activity, HPGe,  Plant

Natural Radionuclides and Hazards in Water and Sediment Samples of Tigris River in Al- Amara city - Maysan - Iraq.

The concentrations of the radionuclides namely 238U, 232Th, and 40K are measured for water and Sediment Tigris River in AL-Amara city- Missan government- Iraq. Using HPGe detector, based on high-resolution gamma spectrometry system and an energy resolution of (≤1.8 keV) for the 133 MeV gamma transition of 60Co. The concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K  were B.D.L. in all water samples except one sample (Hai Al Hassan Alaskary) which has concentrations of 40K(6.818±1.999 Bq/kg). Radium equivalent activity, absorbed gamma dose rate, annual effective dose rate (AED) in and annual effective doses(AED) out, hazard indices(Hin) and (Hex) , and the gamma Index were(0) for all water samples except one sample (Hai Al Hassan Alaskary)  which have (0.524 Bq /kg), ( 0.284 nGy /h), ( 0.0013 mSv/y), ( 0.00034 mSv/y), (0.0014), (0.0014), (0.004) , respectively .The 238U, 232Th, and 40K concentrations in the Sediment Tigris River varies from (15.379±1.999 -24.737±1.269)Bq/kg, (9.930±1.033-16.303±1.437) Bq/kg, and (210.628±12.238-415.215±20.750) Bq/kg with over all mean value of (18.220±1.404Bq/kg), (13.792±1.302 Bq/kg), and (317.343±16.997Bq/kg), respectively. The radium equivalent rate (Raeq) calculated from concentration of 238U, 232Th, and 40K, ranges between(45.798 -72.368) Bq /kg with mean value (63.879 Bq/kg). The absorbed dose Rate(Dγ) for the sediment samples in the study area ranges from (21.886 -35.054) nGy/h with an average value of (29.981nGy/h). The annual effective dose rate (AED)in range(0.107 -0.171 mSv/y) with an average value of (0.146 mSv/y). The annual effective dose rate (AED)out range(0.026 -0.042 mSv/y) with an average value of (0.036 mSv/y). The internal hazard index (Hin) range (0.165-0.252) with an average value of (0.217). The external hazard index (Hex) range (0.123-0.195) with an average value of (0.167). The gamma Index (I) range (0.342-0.553) with an average value of (0.470). The values of the specific activity of (238U, 232Th, and 40K), radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose Rate, indoor and outdoor annual effective dose rates, internal and external hazard indicies, gamma index, all were found to be lower than their corresponding allowed limits. Keywords: AL-Amara city, sediment, Natural radio activity, Radium-equivalent activities, annual effective dose rate (AED), Gamma Index

Using Dates Leaves Midribs to Prepare Hierarchical Structures Incorporating Porous Carbon and Zeolite A Composites for Cesium137Cs Ion Exchange

تم في هذه الدراسة تحضير مادة مساميه سُلمية تتضمن الكربون والزيولايت نوع 4A مع كفاءة عالية لإزالة السيزيوم المشع من مخلفات المياه الملوثة اشعاعيا.  استعملت الطريقة الهيدروحراريه لأنماء طبقه من زيولايت نوع 4A على سطح الكربون المسامي لتحسين عمليه نقل الكتلة وزيادة المساحة السطحية للزيولايت استخدم كرب سعف النخيل العراقي (DM) كمخلفات زراعية متوفرة محليا لتحضير كربون مسامي واطئ الكلفة باستخدام طريقة الكربنه في فرن انبوبي عند درجة حرارة 900C ولمدة ساعتين. التراكيب المسامية الُسلمية تم تحضيرها باستخدام التنشيط الميكانيكي لسطح الكربون باستعمال الموجات الفوق الصوتية بوجود عالق يحتوي على  دقائق نانوية للزيولايت  المطحون نوع 4A. لتحضير عالق يحتوي دقائق نانوية للزيولايت تم طحن الزيولايت التجاري باستعمال كرات زجاجيه بقطر                  (0.3-0.4 mm) كوسط للطحن. تعمل دقائق الزيولايت النانوية كبذور (مراكز تنوي) لزيادة تبلور جل الالوميناسليكا العشوائي على سطح الكربون المعدل. تم تشخيص الزيولايت4A المحضر و المادة المتراكبة المحضرة   باستعمال المجهر الالكتروني الماسح (SEM),جهاز حيود الأشعة السينية (XRD) , جهاز قياس المساحة السطحية(BET) , و (EDX) للتحقق من الهيئة , التركيب ,  المساحة السطحية , والتركيب الكيميائي على التوالي.استخدم المنتج لمعالجة المخلفات السائلة الملوثة اشعاعيا والتي تحتوي على نظير السيزيوم المشعCs-137 تم جمعها من بناية مختبرات الكيمياء الإشعاعية المدمرة في موقع التويثه النووي. قيس تركيز النشاط الإشعاعي للمياه الملوثة قبل وبعد المعالجة باستعمال منظومة أطياف كاما المزودة بكاشف الجرمانيوم عالي النقاوة (HPGe) ذي كفاءة كشف نسبيه تصل الى 60%. أظهرت النتائج  ان تركيز النشاط الاشعاعي للسيزيوم 137  قد انخفض بصورة ملحوظة من 4800 Bq/L الى 186 Bq/L,121 Bq/L باستخدام 0.045 gm من الزيولات 4A و DMZ على التوالي.This study synthesized zeolite 4A, and hierarchical composite structure consisting of zeolite 4A- carbon were successfully prepared. Hydrothermal method was used to grow a layer of zeolite 4A over porous carbon surfaces to enhance mass transfer and increase surface area of zeolite. The products then were used to remove radioactive cesium137Cs from liquid wastewater. Iraqi dates leaves midribs (DM) were used as locally available agricultural waste to prepare low- cost porous carbon, using carbonization method in tubular furnace at 900C for two hours. Hierarchical porous structures including zeolite are prepared by mechanically activating the carbon surface via Ultrasonicating nanoparticles suspension of ground zeolite type 4A.For preparing nanoparticles suspension, commercial zeolite has been milled using 0.3-0.4 mm diameter glass balls as grinding media. Nanoparticles of zeolite 4A acting as seeding (nucleation centers) increase the crystallization of amorphous aluminosilica gel   on modification carbon surface. The products of the syntheses zeolite 4A and the hierarchal composite materials (DMZ) were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen sorption (BET) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) to check the morphology, structure, surface area, and the chemical composition respectively. The products were used to treat radioactive wastewater contaminated with radioactive cesium 137Cs collected from destroyed building of the Radiochemistry Laboratories (RCL) in AL-Tuwaitha Nuclear Site. The activity concentration for the contamination water pre and after the treatment were measured using gamma spectroscopy system supplied with a high purity germanium detector (HPGe) with 60% relative efficiency. The results showed that the radioactivity concentration after the treatment process decreased significantly from 4800 Bq/L to 186 and Bq/L,121 Bq/L using 0.045 gm from synthesized  zeolite  4A and DMZ respectively

Attapulgite as an eco-friendly adsorbent in the treatment of real radioactive wastewater

Operators cannot ignore the radiation hazards arising from nuclear weapons. In this study, batch adsorption experiments were investigated to remove the radioactive isotope Cs-137 from the real radioactive wastewater. The attapulgite natural clay mineral was characterized and adopted as an adsorbent in a batch adsorption system. Equilibrium was reached after 2 h with a Cs-137 removal efficiency of 97% for attapulgite. The kinetics of Cs-137 adsorption on the attapulgite clay surface were evaluated. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model produced an excellent fit with the experimental kinetic data. HIGHLIGHTS Very cheap attapulgite clay was used in a batch adsorption system.; Iraqi attapulgite natural clay proved as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cs-137.; Natural clay was modified and manufactured from a locally available material.; The real samples of radioactive wastewater containing 137Cs have been treated.