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Influence of the type of fuel used on the content of gamma radionuclides in the soot from the smoke ducts of the home furnaces


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Fig. 1.

Principal component analysis scree plot.
Principal component analysis scree plot.

Fig. 2.

Principal component analysis of the measurements results.
Principal component analysis of the measurements results.

Results of the spectrometric measurements with uncertainty

No. Density (G·cm−3) 137Cs (Bq·kg−1) 40K (Bq·kg−1) 228Th (Bq·kg−1) 226Ra (Bq·kg−1) 210Pb (Bq·kg−1)
1 0.53 14.33 ± 0.52 671 ± 24 MDA 15.6 ± 2.6 411.9 ± 5.8
3 0.30 5.12 ± 0.76 323 ± 39 15.8 ± 7.5 17.9 ± 4.6 467.3 ± 9.5
4 1.32 MDA LLD MDA 15.2 ± 1.6 111.0 ± 15.0
5 0.40 16.30 ± 1.10 LLD 30.6 ± 9.3 35.6 ± 4.7 395.0 ± 44.0
7 0.76 MDA MDA MDA MDA 52.0 ± 16.0
8 0.30 3.42 ± 0.68 72 ± 35 17.4 ± 9.8 26.8 ± 4.5 376.6 ± 8.3
9 0.54 18.75 ± 0.59 180 ± 22 MDA MDA 225.7 ± 5.3
10 0.48 68.12 ± 0.96 400 ± 26 20.9 ± 6.5 30.4 ± 3.1 649.9 ± 7.7
12 0.68 MDA 122 ± 17 36.5 ± 6.0 32.8 ± 2.3 1098.7 ± 7.3
13 0.16 MDA MDA 36.0 ± 19.0 74.1 ± 8.9 663.0 ± 16.0
14 0.48 LLD LLD 47.5 ± 8.6 83.9 ± 3.3 576.0 ± 7.4
15 0.47 MDA 93 ± 22 41.3 ± 8.1 61.9 ± 3.1 392.5 ± 5.8
17 0.56 28.86 ± 0.64 650 ± 24 10.9 ± 8.5 12.6 ± 2.6 402.0 ± 6.0
20 0.48 22.50 ± 0.56 372 ± 23 15.6 ± 6.2 26.9 ± 2.9 248.6 ± 5.1
22 0.48 17.17 ± 0.64 797 ± 28 11.2 ± 7.9 14.8 ± 3.0 428.2 ± 6.9

Detailed description of the fuels used on the basis of user testimony

Furnace no. Description and additional information
1 Mixed wood
3 Coal + wood + carton
4 Eco-pea coal (in bulk)
5 Eco-pea coal (mine “Piast”) + beech wood
7 Plywood and chipboard (shiny and extremely
hard soot)
8 Coal (mine “Piast”)
9 Hard firewood
10 Wood pellet (from “Zator”)
12 Eco-pea coal (it created a lot of slag)
13 Eco-pea coal (bagged)
14 Eco-pea coal (mine “Piast Ruch 2”)
15 Eco-pea coal
17 Construction timber + firewood hardwood
20 Beech + aspen wood
22 Mixed wood + cardboard

Basic statistical parameters of the obtained results and the value of minimum detectable activity (MDA)

Minimum Maximum Average Standard deviation
Density (g·cm−3) 0.16 1.32 0.53 0.11
137Cs (Bq·kg−1) MDA (<1.5) 68.1 13.6 1.6
40K (Bq·kg−1) MDA (<23.7) 796.7 260.6 103
228Th (Bq·kg−1) MDA (<0.88) 47.5 20.2 9.5
226Ra (Bq·kg−1) MDA (<1.3) 83.9 30.7 6.9
210Pb (Bq·kg−1) MDA (<5.4) 1098.7 433.2 6.4

Eigenvalues and percentage of the variance described in principal component analysis

Component no. Eigenvalue Percent of variance Cumulative percentage
1 2.79 46.58 46.58
2 1.61 26.96 73.54
3 0.66 11.11 84.65
4 0.53 8.91 93.56
5 0.32 5.40 98.97
6 0.06 1.02 100.00
eISSN:
1508-5791
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, other