Radon emanation coefficient and its exhalation rate of wasted petroleum samples associated with petroleum industry in Egypt

Wasted petroleum, scale and sludge, samples associated with petroleum industries have elevated level of radionuclides concentrations which increase the radiation dose received to the workers. Radon concentration, emanation coefficient and exhalation rate give good information about the radioactivity levels. Twelve samples of scale, sludge and sand, collected from different oil fields in the Red Sea Refineries company for petroleum services in the eastern desert of Egypt, were selected for this study. Radon concentration released from selected samples was measured using AlphaGUARD radon monitor. Radon emanation coefficient and its exhalation rate were calculated based on the measured value of radon concentration. Correlation among radon exhalation rate with radium content and “emanated radon concentration” (radium concentration × emanation coefficient) as well were found to be of 0.94 and 0.99, respectively. Therefore, radon exhalation rate could be useful index for both radium concentration and emanated radon. Radon emanation coefficient was increased more than twice due to water content within material of less than of 10 %.