Determination of <sup>238</sup>U and <sup>40</sup>K Radionuclide Concentrations in Some Granite Rocks by Gamma Spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis
Hanan Al-Ghamdi,
M. A. El-Nahal,
I. H. Saleh,
Mohamed Elsafi,
M. I. Sayyed,
Aljawhara H. Almuqrin
Affiliations
Hanan Al-Ghamdi
Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
M. A. El-Nahal
Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
I. H. Saleh
Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
Mohamed Elsafi
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
M. I. Sayyed
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Isra University, Amman 11622, Jordan
Aljawhara H. Almuqrin
Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Uranium-238 (238U) and potassium-40 (40K) are important naturally occurring radionuclides. Gamma spectroscopy is a direct, non-destructive method used to determine radionuclide concentrations, but it suffers from the interference of gamma lines. 40K gamma spectroscopy is affected by background interference, which leads to a reduction in the minimum detectable activity. The energy dispersive X-ray analytical technique is quick, with fewer interference problems or background effects. However, it is an indirect method for calculating and deducing the concentrations of isotopes. The aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate both techniques so that they can be utilized efficiently. The results of 238U and 40K were measured by well-calibrated gamma spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray techniques. the results indicated that Halayeb White granite is the most environmentally safe compared to the other two types because it contains a very low concentration of uranium 238 and potassium 40.
