Influencing effect of heat-treatment on radon emanation and exhalation characteristic of red mud

•The radon exhalation depends on the heat-treatment temperature. The 1200 °C treated samples has only 10% radon exhalation of the initial.•A strong correlation was found between the porosity and the radon emanation and exhalation features.•Despite these promising results certain components can have an effect on one another, which in turn can cause harmful final structure.

The reuse of industrial by-products is important for members of numerous industrial sectors. However, though the benefits of reuse are evident from an economical point of view, some compounds in these materials can have a negative effect on users' health.In this study, the radon emanation and exhalation features of red mud were surveyed using heat-treatment (100–1200 °C). As a result of the 1200°C-treated samples, massic radon exhalation capacity reduced from 75 ± 10 mBq kg−1 h−1 to 7 ± 4 mBq kg−1 h−1, approximately 10% of the initial exhalation rate.To find an explanation for internal structural changes, the porosity features of the heat-treated samples were also investigated. It was found that the cumulative pore volume reduced significantly in less than 100 nm, which can explain the reduced massic exhalation capacity in the high temperature treated range mentioned above.SEM snapshots were taken of the surfaces of the samples as visual evidence for superficial morphological changes. It was found that the surface of the high temperature treated samples had changed, proving the decrement of open pores on the surface.