Behavior of the natural radionuclides in western coal-fired power plants. [/sup 232/Th, /sup 238/U, /sup 235/U daughters in ash and fly ash]

Coal, bottom-ash, and electrostatic precipitator fly-ash samples were obtained from two western coal-fired power plants burning low- and high-ash, low-sulfur coal. Stack fly ash was also obtained from one plant. Samples were counted for natural ..gamma.. radiation and enrichment factors relative to input coal calculated for /sup 232/Th, /sup 238/U, and /sup 235/U daughters. The behavior of the decay series throughout the coal deposition, combustion, and emission system is discussed. (DLC)