The possibility of the phosphogypsum use in the production of brick: Radiological and structural characterization

In this paper, phosphogypsum (PG) with the content of 226Ra of about 500 Bq kg-1 was used as a clay additive in mass ratios of (0-40) % and its influence on the radiological and mineralogical characteristics of the obtained brick samples was monitored. After sintering the samples at 1000 ?, the formation of the mineral phase gehlenite was observed, and its share increased with the share of PG in the samples. The Monte Carlo method was used to determine the gamma dose rates, and consequently annual effective dose, for a standard room, with dimensions 4 ? 5 ? 2.8 m, whose walls were built of brick with PG. The obtained values were in the range (0.22?0.35) mSv y-1. In addition, the active device RAD7 was used to determine the radon surface exhalation rates from the samples, which were found to be in the range (63-150) mBq m-2 h-1. The estimated indoor radon concentrations were found to be drastically lower than 100 Bq m-3, leading to low radon inhalation doses. However, estimated annual effective doses from external gamma exposure were found not to be insignificant.

Automated summary

Phosphogypsum was used as a clay additive in brick samples, affecting their radiological and mineralogical characteristics. The formation of the mineral phase gehlenite was observed with different PG contents, and the estimated indoor radon concentrations were found to be lower than 100 Bq m-3, leading to low radon inhalation doses. However, the estimated annual effective doses from external gamma exposure were not insignificant.