Evaluation of the performance of bentonite and red mud mixture as a shield in radioactive waste landfills

Abstract. In the present era, due to various industrial developments, there is a need to use different
applications of nuclear energy. But the leading challenge is the management of nuclear waste, which
emits dangerous rays such as gamma rays. This research aim is to create a layer to be used as a
protective coating against radiation in low-level waste landfills. In this paper, bentonite is used as a
base material and red mud as an additive. Also, to determine the linear attenuation coefficient (μ), a
combination of bentonite with 0, 15, 30, and 45% red mud with bentonite was used. To perform a
linear attenuation coefficient test, the NaI (Tl) detector and the source of  were used at two
energy levels of 1173 and 1332 keV. The results of laboratory tests show that the addition of red mud
has improved the parameter of the linear attenuation coefficient of radiation at both energy levels so
that the energy level of 1173 keV and 1332 keV with the addition of 45% red mud has improved by
16 and 12%, respectively.