Low energy scintillation spectrometry for direct determinations of 238U and 210Pb in coal and ash samples

Fly ash, bottom ash and coal samples from a power plant operating with uranifereous coal were analyzed for their 210Pb and 238U contents by means of a technique developed in low energy scintillation γ-spectrometry. Results were compared with the 226Ra 9eU) contents determined with high energy spectrometry. The measurements of 238U, 234Th and 210Pb contents have shown significant departure from radioactive equilibrium indicating that the coal was mined from young deposits. The redistribution of radionuclides in the ash was also investigated and the enrichment factors were determined.