Comparative study on the radioactivity of TE-NORM in different components of oil separator tanks

Natural radioactivity in the crude oil, produced water, sludge and scale wastes from the petroleum industry on the Suez gulf (Abu Redeis), Egypt were investigated. A low radioactivity was found in the produced water and crude oil samples. In the sludge waste samples, the levels of radioactivity were found to be 11.96 and 1.75 kBq kg(-1) for Ra-226 (of U-series) and Ra-228 (of Th-series), respectively. In the scale waste samples, the levels of radioactivity were 11.7 and 4.2 kBq kg(-1) for Ra-226 and Ra-228, respectively. Leaching of different radionuclides in the sludge and scale wastes was investigated using mineral acid alone or after treatment with certain carbonate solutions. The different parameters affecting the treatment were optimized. It is found that high removal of Ra-226 was achieved from sludge and scale wastes when pretreated with 10% sodium carbonate solution, followed by acid dissolution. Removal % of Ra-226 reached 77 and 87% from the sludge and scale wastes, respectively.