Radiation shielding efficiency of rice husk ash-based low-density glasses: a comparative study

The disposal of agricultural waste such as rice husk remains a significant environmental challenge, yet it offers potential for conversion into value added materials such as glass. This study aimed to evaluate radiation shielding efficacy of low-density glasses developed from an abundant agricultural waste i.e. White Rice Husk Ash (WRHA). For this purpose, photon attenuation parameters (Half Value Layer, Linear Attenuation Coefficient, Effective Atomic Number, Transmission Factor) for X-rays employing FLUKA Monte Carlo / EpiXS database and charged particle interaction parameters (Projectile range, Effective Atomic Number) for electrons, protons, He and C ions were determined through SRIM / PAGEX / ESTAR databases. WRHA glasses exhibited linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), effective atomic number (Zeff) and half-value layer (HVL) values in the range of 0.77-8.47 cm^-1, 17.12-25.75 and 0.082-0.904 cm, respectively over 40-120 keV photons. The calculated CSDA ranges for electrons lies between 0.52 and 43.16 g/cm², while projectile range falls within 12.98-151.39, 3.17-13.69, 1.53-662 μm for protons, alpha particles and carbon ions over 1-250 MeV projectile energy. Comparative analysis with low density glasses synthesized from artificial resources concludes with superior radiation shielding competency of WRHA based glasses derived from agricultural waste.