Differential behaviour of combustion and gasification fly ash from Puertollano Power Plants (Spain) for the synthesis of zeolites and silica extraction

Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Pure-Phase Sodalite (>99 wt.%) in Suspension: Methodology Design and Verification

Despite numerous studies focused on the hydrothermal (HT) synthesis of fly ash zeolites (FAZs), this method still has many limitations, the main of which is the low yield of zeolites. Hydrothermally synthesized zeolites are typically multiphase and exhibit low purity, which limits their applicability. Pure-phase zeolites have been primarily prepared from filtrates after alkaline mineralization of fly ashes, not directly in suspension. In addition, the published methodologies have not been tested in a wider set of samples, and thus their reproducibility is not confirmed. The aim of the study is to propose a reproducible methodology that overcomes the mentioned limitations. The influence of the Si/Al ratio (1.3:1-1:2), the type and concentration of the activator (2/4 M NaOH/KOH/LiOH), the reagent (30% LiCl), the duration (24-168 h), and the temperature (50-180 °C) of the synthesis phases were studied. The sequence of the synthesis phases was also optimized, depending on the type of heat transfer. The fly ashes were analyzed by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD XRF), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The energy intensity of the synthesis was reduced through the application of unique microwave digestion technology. Both microwave and combined (microwave and convection) syntheses were conducted. FAZs were identified and quantified by XRD analysis. This study presents a three-stage (TS) hydrothermal synthesis of pure-phase sodalite in suspension. Sodalite (>99 wt.%) was prepared from nine fly ashes under the following conditions: I. microwave phase: 120 °C, 150 min, solid-to-liquid ratio (S/L) 1:5, Si/Al ratio 1:1.5, and 4 M NaOH; II. convection phase: 120 °C, 24 h, S/L 1:40, and the addition of 30 mL of 30% LiCl; and III. crystallization: 70 °C for 24 h. The formation of rhombododecahedral sodalite crystals was confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.

An investigation of the effect of ultrasonic waves on the efficiency of silicon extraction from coal fly ash

Burning of coal accounts for an enormous proportion of the current energy supply, especially in developing countries. Burning of coal produces large amounts of coal fly ash, which causes serious environmental problems unless it is managed properly. Using chemical analysis, we found that coal fly ash could be a promising source of Si, Al, Ca and some rare earth elements, especially with the assistance of some measures such as ultrasound. In this study, we extracted silicon from coal fly ash using an alkaline dissolution strategy and investigated the effects of temperature and ultrasonic power on the efficiency of silicon extraction. During a 70 min reaction, the efficiency of silicon extraction increased markedly, from 9.41% to 34.96%, as the reaction temperature increased from 70 °C to 110 °C. With ultrasound assistance, ultrasonic waves enhanced the extraction of silicon at both 80 °C and 110 °C at 720 W ultrasound, increasing the efficiency of silicon extraction from 6.01% to 15.36% and from 34.96% to 54.42%, respectively. However, at 900 W ultrasonic power, extraction was slightly inhibited at both temperatures, causing a little decrease in efficiency.

One-Pot Synthesis of GeAs Ultrafine Particles from Coal Fly Ash by Vacuum Dynamic Flash Reduction and Inert Gas Condensation

Ge-monopnictides (GeAs) plays critical role in high-tech industry, especially in the field of advanced optical devices and infrared. As a secondary material, coal fly ash could be further recycled to retrieve germanium and prepare GeAs material with high added values. Hence, the aim of this paper is to propose a one-pot synthesis that uses vacuum flash reduction and inert-gas consolidation method to prepare GeAs ultrafine particles. Germanium in coal fly ash can be successfully recycled; simultaneously, GeAs ultrafine particles were prepared. Separation principle and feasibility of this process was discussed. Temperature, carrier gas flow rate and system pressure were the major factors on formation, morphology and distribution of particle size of GeAs ultrafine particles. A three steps synthetic mechanism was clarified, namely, thermal rupture of coal fly ash and release of GeO₂ and As₂O₃, the gas-solid phase reaction of GeO₂, As₂O₃ and coke to generate metallic Ge and As in vacuum flash reduction. Meantime, GeAs were produced in the gas phase reaction. Finally, GeAs ultrafine particles were obtained by carrier gas condensation. In short, this research developed a practical and environment-friendly one-pot synthesis to recycle germanium in coal fly ash and prepare GeAs ultrafine particles with high added values.

Formation of NaP zeolite from fused fly ash for the removal of Cu(ii) by an improved hydrothermal method

Fly ash with a Si : Al ratio of 3.63 has been converted to a zeolite of high Cu²⁺ sorption capacity using a fusion conversion process and an improved hydrothermal method.

Synthesis of merlinoite from Chinese coal fly ashes and its potential utilization as slow release K-fertilizer

This study focuses on the synthesis of merlinoite from Chinese coal fly ashes by KOH direct conversion method, with special emphasis on the application of synthetic merlinoite as fertilizer. These fly ashes were collected from two pulverized-coal combustion (PCC) power plants in Xinjiang, Northwest China. The synthesis results are influenced by fly ash characteristics and different synthesis conditions (KOH solution concentrations, activation temperature, time, and KOH/fly ash ratios). A high quality merlinoite-rich product was synthesized under optimal activation conditions (KOH concentration of 5M, activation temperature of 150°C, activation time of 8h and KOH/fly ash ratio of 2l/kg), with a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 160cmolkg(-1). The synthetic merlinoite is proved to be an efficient slow release K-fertilizer for plant growth, indicating that it can be widely used for high-nutrient demanding crops growing in nutrient-limited soils and for large-area poor soil amendment in opencast coal mine areas around the power plants that will substantially grow with the increasing coal combustion in Xinjiang in the near future.

Variations in vanadium, nickel and lanthanoid element concentrations in urban air

The emission of trace metal pollutants by industry and transport takes place on a scale large enough to alter atmospheric chemistry and results in measurable differences between the urban background of inhalable particulate matter (PM) in different towns. This is particularly well demonstrated by the technogenic release into the atmosphere of V, Ni, and lanthanoid elements. We compare PM concentrations of these metals in large datasets from five industrial towns in Spain variously influenced by emissions from refinery, power station, shipping, stainless steel, ceramic tiles and brick-making. Increased La/Ce values in urban background inhalable PM, due to La-contamination from refineries and their residual products (fuel oils and petcoke), contrast with Ce-rich emissions from the ceramic related industry, and clearly demonstrate the value of this ratio as a sensitive and reliable tracer for many point source emissions. Similarly, anomalously high V/Ni values (>4) can detect the influence of nearby high-V petcoke and fuel oil combustion, although the use of this ratio in urban background PM is limited by overlapping values in natural and anthropogenic materials. Geochemical characterisation of urban background PM is a valuable compliment to the physical monitoring of aerosols widely employed in urban areas, especially given the relevance of trace metal inhalation to urban health issues.

Fly ash from a Mexican mineral coal I: Mineralogical and chemical characterization

The properties of coal fly ash are strongly dependent on the geological origin and the combustion process of the coal. It is important to characterize regional fly ash in detail to ascertain its potential uses as raw material in the production of high value products. The physicochemical properties of fly ash coming from the "Jose Lopez Portillo" coal-fired power plant, Coahuila, Mexico (MFA), are presented in this work. A detailed study of trace elements, the chemical composition of the amorphous phase, thermal stability and the leaching of contaminant elements under different conditions are included. MFA is composed of mullite, quartz, calcite, magnetite and an amorphous phase. This material contains mainly silica (59.6%), alumina (22.8%) and magnetite (5.6%). Its amorphous phase (78.3%) has a high silica (49.4%) and alumina (14.4%) content. According to its mineralogical and chemical composition, MFA is potentially useful as a raw material for making cement, silica, and alumina, as well as low silica/alumina ratio zeolites. Deleterious elements could be removed during the zeolitization process or with an additional acid treatment. Because of its morphological properties and structural and thermal stability, MFA can be used in thermal isolation and refractory materials and as a support for heterogeneous catalysts.

Fly ash from a Mexican mineral coal. II. Source of W zeolite and its effectiveness in arsenic (V) adsorption

Coal-fired plants in Coahuila (Mexico) produce highly reactive fly ash (MFA), which is used in a one-step process as a raw material in producing zeolite. We explored two routes in the synthesis of zeolite: (a) direct MFA zeolitization, which resulted in the formation of W zeolite with KOH and analcime with NaOH and (b) a MFA fusion route, which resulted in the formation of zeolite W or chabazite with KOH and zeolite X or P with NaOH. No residual crystalline phases were present. When LiOH was employed, ABW zeolite with quartz and mullite were obtained. For both zeolitization routes, the nature of the alkali (KOH, NaOH, LiOH), the alkali/MFA ratio (0.23-1.46), and the crystallization temperature and time (90-175 degrees C; 8-24 h) were evaluated. Additionally, the effect of temperature and time on MFA fusion was studied. W zeolite was obtained by both zeolitization methods. The direct route is preferred because it is a straightforward method using soft reaction conditions that results in a high yield of low cost zeolites with large crystal agglomerates. It was demonstrated that aluminum modified W zeolite has the ability to remove 99% of the arsenic (V) from an aqueous solution of Na(2)HAsO(4).7H(2)O originally containing 740 ppb.