Experimental study on mitigating wind erosion of calcareous desert sand using spray method for microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation

Wind erosion is one of the significant natural calamities worldwide, which degrades around one-third of global land. The eroded and suspended soil particles in the environment may cause health hazards, i.e. allergies and respiratory diseases, due to the presence of harmful contaminants, bacteria, and pollens. The present study evaluates the feasibility of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) technique to mitigate wind-induced erosion of calcareous desert sand (Thar desert of Rajasthan province in India). The temperature during biotreatment was kept at 36 °C to stimulate the average temperature of the Thar desert. The spray method was used for bioaugmentation of Sporosarcina (S.) pasteurii and further treatment using chemical solutions. The chemical solution of 0.25 pore volume was sprayed continuously up to 5 d, 10 d, 15 d, and 20 d, using two different concentration ratios of urea and calcium chloride dihydrate viz 2:1 and 1:1. The biotreated samples were subjected to erosion testing (in the wind tunnel) at different wind speeds of 10 m/s, 20 m/s, and 30 m/s. The unconfined compressive strength of the biocemented crust was measured using a pocket penetrometer. The variation in calcite precipitation and microstructure (including the presence of crystalline minerals) of untreated as well as biotreated sand samples were determined through calcimeter, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX). The results demonstrated that the erosion of untreated sand increases with an increase in wind speeds. When compared to untreated sand, a lower erosion was observed in all biocemented sand samples, irrespective of treatment condition and wind speed. It was observed that the sample treated with 1:1 cementation solution for up to 5 d, was found to effectively resist erosion at a wind speed of 10 m/s. Moreover, a significant erosion resistance was ascertained in 15 d and 20 d treated samples at higher wind speeds. The calcite content percentage, thickness of crust, bulk density, and surface strength of biocemented sand were enhanced with the increase in treatment duration. The 1:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution was found effective in improving crust thickness and surface strength as compared to 2:1 concentration ratio of cementation solution. The calcite crystals formation was observed in SEM analysis and calcium peaks were observed in EDX analysis for biotreated sand.     

Seawater-softening process through formation of calcite ooids

Conventional water-softening processes usually involve the exchange of Na⁺ ions for Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ using commercial or synthesized ion exchangers. The differences in chemical compositions of the ooids can be attributed to the formation in different environments. In this paper, ooid grains form inside assembled semi-pilot softening unit through a continuous chemical process involving reaction between bicarbonate ions and added lime using natural seawater. Our sample of Mediterranean seawater has low Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio (1.98%) within the range chemically favorable for precipitation of low-Mg calcite ooids. Precipitation of calcite occurs around pure quartz sand grains which act as nucleation points (the bed required for sand vessel is 1.65 l). The shape of the sand grains controls the overall external morphology of the resulting ooids; they vary in size from 0.5 to 3.0 mm and have a high degree of polish due to surface abrasion caused by continuous agitation inside the softening system. Calcite ooid grains (1.53 kg) formed within the seawater-softening unit every 18 days have many of the ooid features formed in marine environments. Ooids grow to a significant size, at a rate of about 0.17 mm of one layer thickness per day inside the softening unit. The average weight percent of calcite precipitate is 35.48% after 18 days, at 10 °C, 60 l/min and pH 9.0. The pellets comprise mainly CaCO₃ and SiO₂ and some metal ions which may substitute for calcium ions in calcite are present only in trace amounts of the total composition.     

Relationship between microstructure and bowing properties of calcite marble claddings

The use of thin (20–40 mm) marble as cladding for building facades has increased substantially during the last few decades. Many of the marble facades perform but some durability problems have occurred, especially with calcite marble, when the cladding starts to bow indicating a decrease in strength. This study considers the influence of the microstructure on the bowing of the calcite marble using adjacent grains analysis. Samples with a granoblastic texture all had six adjacent grains while those with a more complex microstructure had up to 13 adjacent grains. The samples with a granoblastic texture had the greatest degree of bowing, suggesting that the microstructure is a crucial parameter for the durability of marble and that adjacent grains analysis could be a fast and easy method to assess the suitability of marble for cladding purposes.     

砂土内微生物诱导碳酸钙结晶的检测方法研究

为了寻找砂土中微生物诱导碳酸钙结晶(MICP)过程的无损检测方法,采用3种粒径的砂子和两种浓度的胶结溶液进行了砂土的胶结试验,检测了砂土流出液的流量、p H值、尿素浓度和Ca2+浓度等化学指标变化情况,并对碳酸钙晶体的生成数量和分布进行了分析。试验结果显示:砂土流出液的流量和Ca2+浓度能够预测MICP过程中碳酸钙晶体的生成数量,p H值和尿素浓度能够预测MICP过程中尿素的水解程度;砂土中碳酸钙晶体的生成数量与注入的Ca2+总量呈现线性增长的关系,其线性系数可以通过砂土的粒径和胶结溶液的浓度表示,胶结后砂柱的碳酸钙分布并不均匀,小粒径的砂柱上部碳酸钙含量较高,而大粒径的砂柱下部碳酸钙含量较高。     

Formation and decomposition of C4F7 type calcium ferrites in superfluxed magnetite based pellets during oxidation and reduction

Abstract

In the current work the reactions of magnetite based pellets with large additions of calcite (3%CaO) during reduction have been investigated. This made it possible to use both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to detect reaction phases that normally occur in very small amounts. The main binding phase in the pellets after oxidation was (CaO,MgO,FeO)₄(Fe₂O₃)₇, whereas the one commonly reported in the literature is (CaO)(Fe₂O₃)₂. During reduction at 500–700°C severe cracking occurred in these pellets, especially in the calcium ferrite phase. However, the decomposition of this phase began at 600°C, and therefore it is believed that the reason for the cracks is low strength of the phase itself, rather than weakness induced by reduction of the phase. Upon reduction of magnetite into wüstite at 800°C, the calcium began dissolving in the wüstite, and at 900°C porous calciowüstite had formed in the entire sample, except for some remaining magnetite left in the pellet cores.     

用方解石人工合成烃类包裹体的研究进展

人工合成有机包裹体不仅可以作为分析仪器校正的标样,还可以增进人们对烃类包裹体形成机制和水岩相互作用机理的认识。本文在参考大量国内外包裹体文献的基础上,综述了用方解石人工合成有机包裹体的研究现状及问题,并以法国学者Ju lien Bourdet和Jacques P ironon的试验研究为例,介绍了用方解石人工合成有机包裹体的方法以及研究成果,分析了人工合成有机包裹体研究存在的一些难点及问题,并指出了人工合成烃类包裹体的发展趋势,即在结合烃源岩的生烃史、构造演化史和储层演化史的基础之上,充分发挥试验分析的优势,着重对包裹体后期岩相学应变及再平衡进行研究,才能最大限度地提高分析的准确性,从而提高有机包裹体在油气成藏系统和油气资源评价中的应用价值。     

水玻璃与磷灰石 方解石作用的溶液化学研究

本文通过浮选实验,ζ-电位与吸附量测定及溶液平衡计算,研究了水玻璃与磷灰石及方解石的相互作用。方解石的溶解度较大,溶解后钙离子浓度较大,水玻璃水解组分HSiO_3及SiO_3~(2-)与方解石表面Ca~(2+)发生化学反应,生成硅酸钙沉淀,硅酸钠在方解石表面的吸附量远大于在磷灰石表面的吸附量。水玻璃使方解石表面负ζ-电位显著增大,在pH>9.5,对方解石有选择性抑制作用。     

Morphosynthesis of CaCO3 at different reaction temperatures and the effects of PDDA, CTAB, and EDTA on the particle morphology and polymorph stability

Facile precipitation of CaCO₃ was performed using aqueous solutions of CaCl₂ with Na₂CO₃ over a wide range of mixing and aging temperatures. The precipitation process was then repeated in the presence of PDDA, CTAB, and EDTA at the mixing temperatures of 30 °C, 50 °C, 70 °C, and 90 °C. The presence of these additives was seen to greatly suppress the formation of aragonite. Among these additives, EDTA was the one that showed the most prominent effects on particle morphology of CaCO₃. The sequence of pH adjustment appeared to be a critical factor for the additive functionality.     

某复杂多金属矿低尾化综合利用技术研究

矿产资源在选矿过程中产生的大量尾矿,既是资源的浪费,又是环境污染源。因此,开展低尾化乃至无尾化综合利用研究,最大程度提高资源利用率是未来矿产资源开发、利用的必由之路。本文在研究国内某复杂多金属矿综合利用时,通过分析所含矿物的基因属性、赋存状态以及嵌布关系,先后进行了钽铌精矿、方解石精矿、锂精矿、云母精矿、长石精矿、石英精矿共计6个产品的选别回收,实现了除少量泥质、铁屑之外的全产品、无尾化综合利用技术路线,可为以后同类型复杂多金属矿的综合回收提供思路借鉴。     

石墨-方解石混合物料方解石组分的碎裂参数特性

借助于分批磨矿动力学模型,研究了混合物料组分的碎裂参数特性。结果表明：方解石物料无论是单独磨矿还是混合物料组分参与磨矿,其碎裂分布函数是相同的。和单独磨矿时相比,方解石组分的碎裂速率函数由于组分间的相互作用而发生变化。初步分析了这些相互作用产生的机理。