Abstract
Polonium-210 distributions in Syrian phosphogypsum and its leaching mechanisms have been evaluated. Radiochemical analyses have shown that 210Po concentration in Syrian phosphogypsum is always higher than 226Ra concentration. 210Po concentrations were found to vary between 373 and 589 Bq.kg–1 with an average value of 471 Bq.kg–1, which is lower than values reported in other countries. 210Po was found to be more concentrated in smaller particles; a specific activity of 827 Bq.kg–1 in particles less than 250 mesh was observed. Leaching experiments using distilled water have shown that 210Po are strongly bounded to phosphogypsum particles. The amount of 210Po transferred to aqueous media does not exceed 5.6% and 8.4% for batch wise and continuous leaching, respectively; lowering the pH has increased this percentage to 20%. In addition, leaching with diluted sulfuric acid indicated that 80% of polonium is present as water insoluble quadrivalent polonium sulfate while 20% as soluble simple polonium sulfate. However, the obtained data could be used to explain environmental pathways of 210Po from phosphogypsum.
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