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Analytical methodology for the determination of concentration of pollutants and radioactive elements in phosphate fertilizer used in Saudi Arabia

A.El-Taher

In present work, we have reported the elemental analysis of phosphate fertilizer used in Saudi Arabia measured by means of different analytical methodology. The concentration of natural radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K has been determined by gamma-ray spectrometerwith NaI(Tl) detector. It was found that the average values of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K ranged between 9±1.3 to 55±4.9 Bq kg-1, 8.86±1.8 to 42±8 Bq kg-1 45±8 to 2700±4.9 Bq kg-1, respectively. The measured value of activity concentration of 40 K was estimated to be within the excepted world average range for NPK fertilizer (mean value 2700 Bq kg-1). It was observed that the calculated radium equivalent (Raeq) in fertilizers are lower than the allowedmaximumvalue of 370 Bq kg-1, however, the calculated representative level index, Ir, values for NPK and TSP phosphate fertilizers exceed the upper limit (Ir 1). Furthermore, the concentration of the environmental pollutants (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and common elements (Mg,Mn, and Fe) was carried out using Atomic Absorption spectrometer (AAS). The obtained data are compared with available reported data from other countries in ‘the literature.