Effect of the pore structure of granite and gabbro after heat treatment on the radon emission rate

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 May;29(24):36801-36813. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-18152-4. Epub 2022 Jan 22.

Abstract

The pore structure of rock changes significantly during the heat treatment process, which affects the internal emission rate of radon. This study introduces the results of radon emission rate of rock after high temperature and analyzes the effect of the pore structure in rock mass on radon emission. The results show that there is a good positive correlation between temperature and radon emission in rock mass within a certain temperature range, and the higher the temperature, the higher the radon concentration emission. Two igneous rocks have the rate which is highest after the treatment in 400 °C. The absorption and sealing of radon in the microcapillary are the main occurrences of radon in rock mass. This is reflected in the increase in microcapillary porosity and the decrease in DP, which changes the microstructure of the rock and increases the connectivity of the internal pore channels of the rock, thereby increasing the volume and length of the migration channels for radon. These results are helpful to understand the influencing mechanism of radon emission process in rocks.

Keywords: Fractal dimension; Igneous rock; Pore structure; Radon emission rate.

MeSH terms

  • Hot Temperature
  • Porosity
  • Radon* / analysis
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry

Substances

  • granite
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Radon