DISTRIBUTION OF NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES THROUGHOUT INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS OF MANUFACTURING CYCLE OF TITANIUM PRODUCTION

The distribution of parent and daughter nuclides in intermediate produ cts of industrial processing was studied to estimate the radiation fac tor and to clarify the feasibility of concentration of natural radionu clides of the uranium and thorium series in several products and waste s of titanium tetrachloride production by ilmenite processing. Gamma-e mitting radionuclides in samples of concentrates, slags, cast iron, du st, and other intermediate products were determined by precision gamma -spectrometry. Thorium and polonium-210 isotopes were determined by al pha-spectroscopy with isotope dilution using thorium-234 and polonium- 208. We have found that during ore thermal smelting of ilmenites paren t radionuclides and radium isotopes are mainly transferred to the slag fraction, while isotopes of lead-210 and polonium-210 are transferred to the dust fraction. Only minor amounts of natural radionuclides are present in the cast iron produced. The results of analyses of interme diate products and process wastes of titanium production indicate a fa vorable radiation situation in individual stages of titanium productio n by ilmenite processing.