Erol Kam

X-Ray, Gamma, and Neutron Radiation Tests on Epoxy-Ferrochromium Slag Composites by Experiments and Monte Carlo Simulations

Radiation shielding effects of ferrochromium slag loading hardened epoxy resin samples were investigated. Five different samples including different percentages of epoxy resin and ferrochromium slag were produced. X-ray, gamma ray, and neutron particle transmission experiments were performed for epoxy-ferrochromium slag composites. Also, FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations were made to obtain absorbed doses. As a result, radiation shielding performance increases with increasing ferrochromium slag additive in epoxy.

A study of background radioactivity level for Tekirdag, Turkey.

The level of background radiation for Tekirdag province of north-western Turkey was assessed in this study. Radon concentrations in indoor air were determined using CR-39 nuclear track detectors and the average (222)Rn activity was found to be 86 Bq m(-3) (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 2.2 mSv). Measurements of gamma doses in air were performed using plastic scintillators and the average absorbed gamma dose rates for indoor and outdoor were found to be 5.7 and 5 microR h(-1), respectively, corresponding to an annual effective dose of 300 microSv. The radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples collected from the study area were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry and the average activities were determined as 29, 39 and 580 Bq kg(-1) for the natural radionuclides (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K, respectively, and 5.2 Bq kg(-1) for the fission product (137)Cs. The natural radioactivity sources resulted in an annual effective dose of 75 microSv. The radioactivity levels of drinking water samples were measured as 0.044 and 0.1 Bq l(-1) for gross alpha and gross beta activities using a low-background counting technique (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 9 microSv). The results of this study showed that the regions background radioactivity level is in agreement with most Turkish cities.

Assessment of natural radioactivity concentrations and gamma dose rate levels in Kayseri, Turkey.

This study assesses the level of background radiation for Kayseri province of Turkey. Natural radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples were determined using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy. Outdoor gamma dose measurements in air at 1 m above ground level were determined using a portable gamma scintillation detector. The obtained results of uranium and thorium series as well as potassium ((40)K) are discussed. The present data were compared with the data obtained from different areas in Turkey. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, the average activity concentrations were determined for (238)U (range from 3.91 to 794.25 Bq kg(-1)), (232)Th (range from 0.68 to 245.55 Bq kg(-1)) and (40)K (range from 23.68 to 2718.71 Bq kg(-1)). The average activity concentrations of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K were found to be 35.51, 37.27 and 429.66 Bq kg(-1), respectively, and 11.53 Bq kg(-1) for the fission product (137)Cs. The highest values of (238)U, (232)Th and (40)K concentrations (794.25 Bq kg(-1), 245.55 Bq kg(-1), 2718.71 Bq kg(-1), respectively) were observed in abnormal samples at Hayriye village. The average outdoor gamma dose rate in air at 1 m above the ground was determined as 114.43 nGy h(-1). Using the data obtained in this study, the average annual effective dose for a person living in Kayseri was found to be about 140.34 µSv.

The adsorption behavior of cesium on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/itaconic acid) copolymeric hydrogels

In this study, N-isopropylacrylamide/itaconic acid (NIPAAm/IA) hydrogels prepared by irradiating with γ radiation were used in experiments on cesium ion adsorption. The cesium ion adsorption capacity of the hydrogels was investigated as a function of Cs+ concentration, pH and temperature. The adsorption behavior of cesium was evaluated by using the radiotracer method. The adsorption isotherm models were applied to the experimental data, and it was seen that Freundlich isotherm explained the adsorption better than Langmuir isotherm. Two simplified kinetic models including pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equation were selected to follow the adsorption processes. The Cs+ adsorption could be best described by the pseudo-first-order equation. The thermodynamic parameters including ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° for adsorption processes of Cs+ on the hydrogel were also calculated, and the negative ΔH° and ΔG° confirmed that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous.

Cationic dye adsorption by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide/maleic acid) copolymeric hydrogels prepared by gamma rays

N-isopropylacrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels containing different quantities of maleic acid have been synthesized with γ-radiation. The hydrogels were used in experiments on swelling, diffusion and adsorption of a cationic dye methylene blue. The diffusion of MB into the hydrogels was found to be the non-Fickian type. The factors influencing adsorption capacity of the hydrogel such as gel composition, and irradiation dose were systematically investigated. The equilibrium data for dye adsorption was better described by the Freundlich isotherm than Langmuir isotherm model. The kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits better than the data obtained from pseudo-first-order model.

Indoor Radon Measurement In The City Of Edirne, Turkey

This study assesses the indoor radon concentrations for the city of Edirne situated in the European part of Turkey (Eastern Thrace). A total of 88 CR‐39 nuclear track detectors were kept in basements of the selected apartment buildings and houses for passively determining the indoor radon levels of the dwellings for a period of three months. The detectors were then collected and a chemical process of etching was applied to the films. At this stage, the tracks left by alpha particles on the films exposed to radon gas were visible and were counted with a microscope (500×magnification) to estimate the corresponding indoor radon concentrations. The average indoor radon concentration was found to be 49.2 Bq/m3 equivalent to an annual effective dose of 1.24 mSv. The measurement results obtained in this study show no significant departure from the other parts of the country.

A study of environmental radioactivity measurements for Cankiri, Turkey

This study is the first to assess the level of background radiation for the Cankiri province of Turkey. Indoor air radon concentrations were determined using Columbia Resin-39 nuclear track detectors and the average (222)Rn activity was found to be 44 Bq m(-3) (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 1.1 mSv). Measurements of gamma doses in outdoor air were performed using a portable plastic scintillation detector and the average gamma absorbed dose rate was found to be 8 μR h(-1) (corresponding to an annual effective dose of 87.7 μSv). Radionuclide activity concentrations in soil samples were measured through gamma-ray spectrometry and the average activities were determined as 17.7, 22.3, 357 and 4.1 Bq kg(-1) for the radionuclides (238)U, (232)Th, (40)K and (137)Cs, respectively. The average annual effective dose from the natural radioactivity sources ((238)U series, (232)Th series and (40)K) was calculated to be 44.4 μSv. Radioactivity levels of drinking water samples were carried out using a low-background proportional counter and the average gross alpha and beta activities were obtained as 0.25 and 0.26 Bq l(-1), respectively (equivalent to an annual effective dose of 184 μSv). The average radon concentrations in indoor air and the average radionuclide activities in soil were found to be lower than most Turkish cities while higher levels of outdoor gamma dose rate and water radioactivity were observed. The results of this study showed that the regions background radioactivity level differs considerably from the reported data for Turkish cities.

Natural radioactivity in bottled mineral and thermal spring waters of Turkey

Radiological assessment of bottled mineral waters and thermal spring waters collected from various natural sources in Turkey was carried out using gross alpha and gross beta counting techniques. For 40 samples of bottled mineral water, the mean gross alpha activity concentration was determined to be 164 mBq l(-1) (min.:7 mBq l(-1); max.: 3042 mBq l(-1)), whereas the gross beta activity concentration was found to be 555 mBq l(-1) (min.: 21 mBq l(-1); max.: 4845 mBq l(-1)). For 24 samples of thermal spring water, the mean gross alpha activity concentration was obtained to be 663 mBq l(-1) (min.: 18 mBq l(-1); max.: 3070 mBq l(-1)). The gross beta activity concentration for these samples, on the other hand, was determined to be 3314 mBq l(-1) (min.: 79 mBq l(-1); max.: 17955 mBq l(-1)). These values lead to the average annual effective doses of 313 µSv for mineral waters and 1805 µSv for thermal spa waters, which are found to be higher than those recommended for drinking waters by the World Health Organization. It should be noted, however, that one will get less dose from mineral waters since the daily consumption is much lower than 2 l that these calculations assume.

Determination of gross alpha and beta activity concentrations in drinking waters in Bursa region of north-western Turkey

Abstract This study intends to radiologically assess the drinking waters from Bursa province of northwestern Turkey. Using gross-alpha and gross-beta counting methods, the gross-alpha activity concentrations of 43 drinking water samples were measured as 68.5 mBq dm−3 in the range 13–629 mBq dm−3. The gross-beta activity concentrations were determined as 67.1 mBq dm−3 in the range 12–455 mBq dm−3. These values lead to average annual effective doses of 14 μSv from alpha emitters and 33.8 μSv from beta emitting radionuclides and are found to be much lower than those recommended for drinking waters by World Health Organization (WHO).

Environmental Radioactivity Measurements in Harran Plain of Sanliurfa, Turkey

This study aims to assess the environmental radioactivity levels of Harran Plain located within the boundaries of the south‐eastern province of Sanliurfa, Turkey. In addition to being at the center of Turkey’s major irrigation and development project (South Eastern Anatolian Project, GAP), this 1500 km2 region is famous for its historic attractions. The outdoor gamma dose rates were measured at selected points of the study area using a plastic scintillator. The activity concentrations in the soil samples collected from the study area were determined by gamma spectrometry for the natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K and the fission product 137Cs. The gross alpha and beta activities in the water samples collected from the region was measured using a low‐level gamma spectrometry device. A comparison of the measurement results obtained in this study with those of national and world averages are presented in graphical and tabular forms.