Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies

Abstract The efficiency of geopolymers as an effective immobilization system for various hazardous waste materials can be enhanced by adding PbO to improve its radiation shielding characteristics. In this study, the impact of PbO addition on the shielding properties of geopolymer composites was exam...

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Main Authors: E. O. Echeweozo, Sultan Alomairy, Norah Salem Alsaiari, M. S. Al-Buriahi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81186-4
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author E. O. Echeweozo
Sultan Alomairy
Norah Salem Alsaiari
M. S. Al-Buriahi
author_facet E. O. Echeweozo
Sultan Alomairy
Norah Salem Alsaiari
M. S. Al-Buriahi
author_sort E. O. Echeweozo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The efficiency of geopolymers as an effective immobilization system for various hazardous waste materials can be enhanced by adding PbO to improve its radiation shielding characteristics. In this study, the impact of PbO addition on the shielding properties of geopolymer composites was examined to evaluate the gamma radiation shielding characteristics of the geopolymer using FLUKA and XCOM computer programs. The results showed that adding 10% and 20% lead oxide significantly improved the shielding properties of the investigated geopolymer, mostly at lower photon energies. The higher values of MAC of 59.66728 cm2/g at 0.015 MeV, and 0.03916 cm2/g at 15 MeV for the investigated geopolymers suggest that these materials have improved radiation shielding at lower and intermediate energies due to higher photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering. The findings of this study provided valuable insights for designing high-performance radiation protection in medical imaging facilities, nuclear power plants, industrial radiography and other special radiation installations. Therefore, GEO doped with 20PbO should be deployed to fortify these facilities against ionizing radiations.
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spelling doaj-art-4fe7d357ef0a4147bdf3b678f60bfd012025-08-20T02:30:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-81186-4Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studiesE. O. Echeweozo0Sultan Alomairy1Norah Salem Alsaiari2M. S. Al-Buriahi3Department of Industrial and Medical Physics, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences UburuDepartment of Physics, College of Science, Taif UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityDepartment of Physics, Sakarya UniversityAbstract The efficiency of geopolymers as an effective immobilization system for various hazardous waste materials can be enhanced by adding PbO to improve its radiation shielding characteristics. In this study, the impact of PbO addition on the shielding properties of geopolymer composites was examined to evaluate the gamma radiation shielding characteristics of the geopolymer using FLUKA and XCOM computer programs. The results showed that adding 10% and 20% lead oxide significantly improved the shielding properties of the investigated geopolymer, mostly at lower photon energies. The higher values of MAC of 59.66728 cm2/g at 0.015 MeV, and 0.03916 cm2/g at 15 MeV for the investigated geopolymers suggest that these materials have improved radiation shielding at lower and intermediate energies due to higher photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering. The findings of this study provided valuable insights for designing high-performance radiation protection in medical imaging facilities, nuclear power plants, industrial radiography and other special radiation installations. Therefore, GEO doped with 20PbO should be deployed to fortify these facilities against ionizing radiations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81186-4GeopolymersLead (II) oxideGamma shieldingXCOMFLUKA
spellingShingle E. O. Echeweozo
Sultan Alomairy
Norah Salem Alsaiari
M. S. Al-Buriahi
Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
Scientific Reports
Geopolymers
Lead (II) oxide
Gamma shielding
XCOM
FLUKA
title Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
title_full Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
title_fullStr Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
title_full_unstemmed Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
title_short Effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers: theoretical and simulation studies
title_sort effect of lead oxide addition on gamma radiation shielding properties of newly developed geopolymers theoretical and simulation studies
topic Geopolymers
Lead (II) oxide
Gamma shielding
XCOM
FLUKA
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81186-4
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AT sultanalomairy effectofleadoxideadditionongammaradiationshieldingpropertiesofnewlydevelopedgeopolymerstheoreticalandsimulationstudies
AT norahsalemalsaiari effectofleadoxideadditionongammaradiationshieldingpropertiesofnewlydevelopedgeopolymerstheoreticalandsimulationstudies
AT msalburiahi effectofleadoxideadditionongammaradiationshieldingpropertiesofnewlydevelopedgeopolymerstheoreticalandsimulationstudies