Measurement of radioactivity in fertilizer samples by using (HPGe) detector

Abstract

This study has been carried out to detect and measure the specific activites, radiation hazard indices of radionuclides for fertilizer samples for six available kinds [)Fertilizer Compound (NPK), Triple Super Phosphate (T.S.P.), Mixed Fertilizer (M.F.), Organic Nitrogenous (O.N.) ,Single Super Phosphate (S.S.P.) , Dicalcium phosphate (D.S.)] from different origins, by using high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector . The results obtained have shown that, the highest value of specific activity of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 were (26.070 Bq/kg, 29.850 Bq/kg ,252.720 Bq/kg), respectively, in fertilizer sample Triple Super Phosphate (T.S.P.), Jordan origin while the lowest value of specific activity of (238U) was found in Dicalcium phosphate (D.S.) which was equal to (12.340 Bq/kg), Lebanese origin and the lowest value of specific activity of (232Th) was found in Mixed Fertilizer (M.F.) which was equal to (14.620 Bq/kg) , Italian origin and the lowest value of specific activity of (40K) was found in (NPK) Fertilizer Compound which was equal to (94.540 Bq/kg), Iranian origin. The present results show that the value of specific activity of U-238, Th-232 and K-40 in all fertilizer samples are below the allowed limit as well as all fertilizer samples are safe for consumption and does not constitute a danger to the citizens.