226Ra, 228Ra and 40K in scales from boilers of industrial installations

The purpose of this work was to determine concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra and 40K in scales generated inside industrial boilers. Radionuclide activities were determined by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. Activity concentrations of 226Ra were in the range of 3.0 (22) to 1300 (6) Bq kg−1 and 228Ra activity concentrations varied from <2.0 Bq kg−1 (Minimum detectable activity concentration) to 266 (3) Bq kg−1. Activity concentrations of 40K were in the range of <15 Bq kg−1 (Minimum detectable activity concentration) to 290 (5) Bq kg−1. Activity concentrations were lower than the limits established by the Brazilian Commission of Nuclear Energy.