Philippine Journal of Science
151 (3): 823-832, June 2022
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 20 Oct 2021

Radiation Attenuation Processes: the Role of Clay Porous Media

Lohane Tech¹*, Luiz Fernando Pires², Andre Mauricio Brinatti²,
Sérgio Costa Saab², and Jadir Aparecido Rosa³

¹Physics Graduate Program, State University of Ponta Grossa,
Ponta Grossa 84.030-900 Brazil
²Department of Physics, State University of Ponta Grossa,
Ponta Grossa 84.030-900 Brazil
³Agricultural Research Institute of Paraná,
Ponta Grossa 84001-900 Brazil

*Corresponding author: lohane.tech@gmail.com

 

[Download]
Tech L et al. 2022. Radiation Attenuation Processes: the Role of Clay Porous
Media. Philipp J Sci 151(3): 823–832. https://doi.org/10.56899/151.03.03

 

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine different radiation interaction parameters in clay soils, given the scarcity of works approaching this type of soil and its aggregation ability, which directly affects radiation attenuation. The parameters were theoretically determined through elemental analysis. The results showed that the parameters that presented a better distinction between soils were the effective atomic number (Zeff) and the molecular cross-section (σM). The Zeff, as well as the mass attenuation coefficient (µ/ρ) plus the atomic (σA) and the electronic (σE) cross-sections, presented strong positive correlations and direct relation with the soil Fe2 O3 content. The σM, in turn, showed a negative correlation with the iron oxide content while presenting a strong positive correlation with the molecular weight of each soil constituent. Finally, the radiation interaction parameter set proposed in this study enabled the characterization of the soils regarding their chemical composition, even in soils with the same texture.