Biomass fly ash in concrete: SEM, EDX and ESEM analysis

This document summarizes microscopy study of concrete prepared from cement and fly ash (25% fly ash and 75% cement by weight), which covers coal fly ash and biomass fly ash. All the fly ash concrete has the statistical equal strength from one day to one year after mix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) analysis show that both coal and biomass fly ash particles undergo significant changes of morphology and chemical compositions in concrete due to pozzolanic reaction, although biomass fly ash differs substantially from coal fly ash in its fuel resources.     

Effects of particle size on microstructure and mechanical strength of a fly ash based ceramic membrane

Recycling fly ash for ceramic membrane fabrication not only reduces solid waste discharge, but also decreases the membrane cost. Now, fly ash is becoming a promising substitute material for ceramic membrane preparation. A significant difference between fly ashes from different plants is the particle size, which makes performances of fly ash membranes unpredictable. The novelty of this work is to clarify the effects of the particle size of fly ash on ceramic membranes, thereby giving practical suggestions on fly ash selection for ceramic membrane preparation. Ceramic membranes were fabricated with different sizes of fly ashes. Effects of particle size on porosity, pore size, microstructure, mechanical strength and gas permeability of the membrane were investigated. Results indicate that a broader particle size distribution of fly ash leads to a denser structure of membrane with a lower porosity. Pore size and gas permeability of membrane increase while bending strength decreases with the particle size increasing. Bending strength of a fly ash membrane is largely determined by large particles in the fly ash because the large particles lead to cracks in the membrane. This work provides experimental bases for developing high performance ceramic membranes from fly ash.     

Substitution of quartz and clay with fly ash in the production of architectural ceramics: A mechanistic study

Quartz and clay are substituted gradually by fly ash using a triaxial ceramic formulation under simulated industrial conditions and the effects of fly ash substitution on the macroscopic properties and microstructures of the sintered ceramics are evaluated systematically. With the substitution of 35 wt% (1250 °C), the ceramic sample exhibited optimal properties, including linear shrinkage of 15.61%, bulk density of 2.39 g cm^-3, water absorption of 0.62% and flexural strength of 41.70 MPa, due to the accelerated densification and fly ash-spurred needle-shaped mullite. The microstructure analysis shows that the sintered matrix consists of three types of particles, quartz-, clay- and feldspar-like particles showing sintering behavior with respect to filling the glassy matrix with preserved morphology, precipitating mullite crystals, and fusing with the surrounding glassy matrix, respectively. The strength of the fly ash - containing ceramics is analyzed by the dispersion-strengthening mechanism and porosity and the results indicate that the fly ash particles affect the mechanical strength due to Griffith flaws when the total porosity is less than 25% and pores at higher total porosity. This study provides a viable strategy to recycle industrial fly ash in the production of architectural ceramics.     

煤气化粗渣-粉煤灰基地质聚合物的制备与性能

煤气化渣与粉煤灰均为煤炭资源利用过程中产生的固体废弃物,可以应用在碱激发领域。从煤气化粗渣的性质入手,采用粉煤灰对煤气化粗渣进行改性,利用碱激发技术制备了煤气化粗渣-粉煤灰基地质聚合物,并对所制备产物的性能进行研究。结果表明,在体系中掺入粉煤灰可以明显改善其力学性能,当粉煤灰掺入量为30%(质量分数)时,样品的28 d抗压强度最高,达到44.5 MPa。此外,通过对样品进行物相分析与微观形貌表征发现,样品的无定形产物主要为N(C)-A-S-H凝胶,它能够结成相互连接的空间网状结构,具有较强的黏结能力,这是样品材料具有较高强度的主要原因。     

Development of celsian ceramics from fly ash useful for X-ray radiation-shielding application

For the first time the capability of fly ash to produce barium containing radiopaque materials has been demonstrated. Fly ash which is a waste generated in power plants due to combustion of pulverized coal, has been utilized^a for making X-ray radiation-shielding materials. A novel method for making radiation-shielding materials utilizing fly ash and barium compound has been developed by ceramic processing route using phosphate bonding. The fly ash based radiopaque materials (FARM), i.e. shielding materials are characterized for their X-ray attenuation characteristics. The shielding, i.e. half value thickness (HVT) for different energies of X-ray photons for FARM have been computed and compared with conventionally used shielding materials, namely concrete and lead, it is found that the HVT of the fly ash based shielding materials, in comparison to concrete, is significantly very less for the various energies of X-ray photons.The X-ray powder diffraction studies confirmed the presence of monoclinic and hexagonal celsian and sanbornite as the major shielding phases and potassium aluminosilicate, sodium aluminosilicate and silicophosphate as the binder phases in the FARM and are responsible for providing bonding to the ceramic matrix leading to the effective shielding and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microphotographs have revealed the compacted plate like particles with hexagonal morphological characteristics of the various barium silicate and barium aluminosilicate (BAS) shielding phases in the matrix of radiopaque materials. The mechanical properties, namely compressive strength and impact strength evaluation test showed that FARM meets the standard specifications laid down for radiation-shielding concrete and ceramic tiles. Based on the above studies, it is found that FARM, can preferably be used for the construction of X-ray diagnostic and CT-scanner room to provide adequate shielding against X-ray photons.     

Comprehensive phase characterization of crystalline and amorphous phases of a Class F fly ash

A comprehensive approach to qualitative and quantitative characterization of crystalline and amorphous constituent phases of a largely heterogeneous Class F fly ash is presented. Traditionally, fly ash composition is expressed as bulk elemental oxide content, generally determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. However, such analysis does not discern between relatively inert crystalline phases and highly reactive amorphous phases of similar elemental composition. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the crystalline phases present in the fly ash, and the Rietveld quantitative phase analysis method was applied to determine the relative proportion of each of these phases. A synergistic method of X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and multispectral image analysis was developed to identify and quantify the amorphous phases present in the fly ash.     

800密度等级的渣土陶粒制备及性能研究

为进一步促进城市渣土资源化利用,本文研制了800密度等级,粒径不同(10~15 mm,15~25 mm)的渣土陶粒.探究了原料配方、烧制工艺对渣土陶粒性能的影响规律,同时采用超景深光学显微镜和扫描电镜对渣土陶粒的微观结构进行了分析.研究结果表明:(1)渣土:粉煤灰质量配比为75∶25时,预热温度500 ℃,预热时间20 min,焙烧时间15 min,焙烧温度1190 ℃下,可制备出不同粒径(10~15 mm,15~25 mm)的800密度等级渣土陶粒;(2)15~25 mm粒径的渣土陶粒,筒压强度为4.6 MPa,堆积密度729 kg/m3,表观密度1329 kg/m3,1 h吸水率为1.7%,烧失量1.4%;10~15 mm粒径的渣土陶粒,筒压强度为5.2 MPa,堆积密度760 kg/m3,表观密度1483 kg/m3,1 h吸水率为1.6%,烧失量1.4%;(3)不同粒径下的渣土陶粒微观结构均比较疏松,其中小粒径渣土陶粒内部结构相比大粒径较疏松,孔隙较多,孔径较大.     

Fly ash characterization by SEM–EDS

A study conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory characterized twelve Class F fly ash samples from nine PC power plants in PA, WV, MD and TN, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Both the surface and internal structure of fly ash particles were analyzed. All of the fly ash samples were comprised mainly of amorphous alumino-silicate spheres and a smaller amount of iron-rich spheres. The majority of the iron-rich spheres had two components: iron oxide and amorphous alumino-silicate. Both materials were apparent on the particle surface, and cross-sections clearly showed that the iron oxide and alumino-silicate were mixed throughout the fly ash particles. Calcium, the fourth most abundant element in the fly ash, was associated with oxygen, sulfur or phosphorous, not with silicon or aluminum. The calcium-rich material was distinct in both elemental composition and texture from the amorphous alumino-silicate spheres. The elemental concentrations, as determined by EDS, were consistent with ICP-OES and X-ray diffraction data.     

燃煤过程矿物质形态对亚微米颗粒释放的影响

为研究燃煤过程中亚微米颗粒的形成机理,选取了三种烟煤在沉降炉内燃烧,用X射线荧光光谱和透射电子显微镜能量色散谱仪联用对煤和亚微米灰中的矿物质进行分析,研究内生态和游离态的矿物质的转化过程.结果表明,与碳结构的结合方式决定了矿物质向亚微米颗粒的转化.游离态矿物质很少转化成亚微米灰颗粒,但其组成却影响着Si和Al的转化.     

Aggregation experiments on fine fly ash particles in uniform magnetic field

Aggregation experiments on three fly ash samples in the size range of 0.023-9.314 μm were conducted in a uniform magnetic field. The fly ash particles were produced from combustion of three different bituminous coals. The coals were originated Dongshen, Datong and Xuzhou of China, respectively. A fluidized bed aerosol generator was used to disperse the fly ash particles to generate a constant aerosol. The aerosol particles aggregated when passing through the magnetic field. The variation of particle number concentration caused by particle aggregation was measured in real time by an Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI). The effects of several parameters, such as particle size, magnetic flux density, particle residence time in the magnetic field, total particle mass concentration and average gas velocity, on particle aggregation were examined. Experimental results indicated that removal efficiencies are the highest for particles with sizes in the middle of the size ranges tested. Increasing magnetic flux density, total particle mass concentration, particle residence time in the magnetic field or by reducing average gas velocity can increase removal efficiencies of single-sized and total fly ash particles. When fly ash particle magnetization reached saturation state, further increase of the magnetic flux density will have no effect on particle aggregation. The single-sized and total particle removal efficiencies of the three fly ashes are different under the same operating conditions. The removal efficiency is the highest for fly ash generated from Dongshen coal, followed by fly ash from Datong coal, and then fly ash from Xuzhou coal. Particle number median diameters decreases with the increase in the total particle removal efficiencies. The model prediction of particle aggregation under high total particle mass concentrations conditions indicated that the single-sized and total particle removal efficiencies will increase greatly with the increase in total particle mass concentration. The model predicted total removal efficiencies of the three fly ash particles are 53%, 43% and 14%, for Dongshen, Datong and Xuzhou coals respectively when total particle mass concentration is 40 g/m³.     

Preparation and characterization of mullite whisker reinforced ceramics made from coal fly ash

Ceramics with mullite whiskers were prepared from coal fly ash and Al₂O₃ raw materials, with AlF₃ used as an additive. The phase structures and microstructures of the ceramics were identified via X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that pickling of coal fly ash is an effective method for enhancing the flexural strength of ceramics. Sintering temperature and AlF₃ addition were also key factors influencing the creation of ideal ceramics. The ceramic made from pickled coal fly ash, 6?wt% AlF₃, and sintered at 1200?°C, exhibited the highest flexural strength of 59.1?MPa, and had a bulk density of 1.32?g/cm³ and porosity of 26.8%. The results show that ceramic materials made under these conditions are ideal candidates for manufacturing ceramic proppants for the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas resources.     

Morphology and composition of the fly ash particles produced in incineration of municipal solid waste

This paper describes the results of experiments using a pilot-scale, 140,000 Btu/h, solid fuel continuous feed laboratory incinerator. A synthetic fuel representative of the municipal solid waste in the United States was formulated and used in this research. The fuel contained Fe and SiO₂, and was doped with trace amounts of Al, Ni, Cr, Hg, and PbO. Experiments were performed with varying fuel–air ratio, and both gaseous and condensed products were collected and analyzed.This work focuses on the characterization of composition and morphology of fly ash particles captured in a fabric filter. Particle size distributions were obtained using optical microscopy and sieving. Atomic absorption (AA) was used to determine bulk compositions of the size-classified ash fractions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to study the morphology and surface compositions of the ash particles. It was observed that the fly ash particles have bimodal size distribution and, most interestingly, that the ash particles of different sizes have different elemental and phase compositions. Concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Fe were greater in the coarse particles (up to 1-mm diameter), whereas concentrations of Al and Si were higher in the finer particles (less than 75 μm). Maximum concentrations of Pb and Hg occurred in the 150–300-μm particles.It is suggested that if a correlation between the composition and size of the ash particles similar to that observed in this research exists in the products of industrial combustors, a technique of ash processing based on the particle size classification could be developed. Applying such a technique could result in the efficient and inexpensive removal of the lead- and mercury-rich particulates from the produced ash. The processed, environmentally benign ash portions will therefore be useful for a variety of the recycling-based manufacturing, and metal recovery processes.     

钢渣-煤基固废可控低强度材料制备及热力学分析

利用NaOH、Na₂SO₄协同碱激发煤矸石(CG)、钢渣(SS)、粉煤灰(FA)制备无水泥可控低强度材料(CLSM)。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、X射线衍射(XRD)分析了CLSM的微观结构和相组成。结果表明,Ca/(Ca+Si)的摩尔比与材料的7 d、28 d无侧限抗压强度比值存在线性关系,当Ca/(Ca+Si)摩尔比大于0.407时,7 d即可达到28 d无侧限抗压强度的70%以上,该材料具有早强特性。当粉煤灰质量掺量在40%以下时,CLSM工作性(流动性)满足ACI规范要求,不同质量配比的SS/FA改变了CLSM体系中反应产物的相组成,产物中钙矾石与水化硅酸钙(C-S-H)凝胶的密实嵌合结构为材料力学性能提供了微观结构基础。最后,基于吉布斯自由能最小化方法,模拟了水化产物中两种晶型水化硅酸钙的生成量。     

低品位粉煤灰的改性及其对水泥浆体强度和自收缩的影响

采用石灰石粉对低品位粉煤灰进行煅烧改性,利用X射线衍射、扫描电镜和能谱分析等方法对改性粉煤灰的矿物组成和化学组成进行表征.同时测定了掺改性粉煤灰的水泥浆体的抗压强度和自收缩,并采用背散射扫描电镜和压汞测孔仪研究了掺改性粉煤灰水泥浆体的微观结构.结果表明,粉煤灰经煅烧改性生成了水硬性矿物β-C2S,水化可生成CSH凝胶,改善了等外粉煤灰颗粒与水泥基体的界面粘接,降低了复合水泥浆体的孔隙率和自收缩,提高了复合水泥浆体的强度.     

The fate of trace elements and bulk minerals in pulverized coal combustion in a power station

The behaviour of 15 trace elements (As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Y, Zn and Zr) and 10 major and minor elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Si and Ti) in coal during combustion in a power station has been studied. Synchronized sampling of pulverized coal, bottom ash and fly ash was undertaken over a limited time period. Fly ash morphology was studied by SEM and the mineral composition was studied by EDX and XRD. Major, minor and trace elements were determined by XRF and AAS. Differences between the composition of the ashes of pulverized coal, bottom ashes and fly ashes have been observed. As, Cu, Mo, Pb and Zn were concentrated in the fly ash. The relationship between the composition of the fly ashes and their particle size was studied. Enrichment factors were calculated for each element in different size fractions. As the particle sizes of fly ash decrease, the concentrations of As, Cu, Mo, Pb and Zn increase. From the different composition of bottom ashes and fly ashes (and relying on the results of the characterization of the feed coal carried out in previous work), it can be assumed that pyrite and carbonates make a greater contribution to the furnace bottom ashes. Quartz carries through into the fly ash. This mineral is almost absent in the finest fractions, reflecting the absence of small quartz particles in the feed coal.     

粒径对福建无烟煤在CFB锅炉中燃尽的影响

建立了福建无烟煤细颗粒燃烧模型,计算了其在容量35 t/h循环流化床锅炉炉膛内的燃尽时间和一次通过炉膛的停留时间,分析了不同粒径煤颗粒在不同燃烧温度和不同烟气流速时在CFB锅炉内的燃尽时间和停留时间的变化差异. 实验研究了福建无烟煤粒径对飞灰碳含量的影响及燃尽的影响. 结果表明,细煤颗粒的燃尽时间与停留时间均随粒径增大而增长,但燃尽时间增幅更明显,颗粒一次通过炉膛完全燃尽的临界粒径约为0.15 mm;粒径越大的颗粒其停留时间和燃尽时间对烟气流速和燃烧温度变化越敏感;无烟煤入炉粒径明显影响CFB锅炉飞灰含碳量,选用粒度为3~8 mm的偏粗颗粒为宜.     

NaOH激发粉煤灰基胶凝材料的水化产物

以粉煤灰为原料,NaOH为激发剂,制备出高抗压强度的粉煤灰基碱激发胶凝材料,研究养护条件对粉煤灰基碱激发胶凝材料抗压强度的影响。用x射线衍射分析不同龄期粉煤灰基碱激发胶凝材料的矿物组成,并用带能谱分析的扫描电镜观察不同龄期材料的微观形貌和区域元素组成。结果表明：蒸汽养护可以显著提高材料的抗压强度：粉煤灰中的玻璃相参加材料的水化反应,莫来石、石英等晶相则为惰性物质,不参加反应：在水化过程早期,粉煤灰基碱激发胶凝材料的气孔内会形成钠系菱沸石的前驱体,蒸汽养护1d后长大为表面呈十字交叉状的1pm左右颗粒,随着时间延长,这些颗粒可长至5μm左右,交错重叠充满整个气孔内壁,形成致密的空间网状结构,使材料强度得到提高。     

700密度等级渣土陶粒制备及其性能研究

为进一步促进城市渣土资源化利用,本文研究了原材料(渣土、粉煤灰、污泥和秸秆)和温度对渣土陶粒密度等级的影响,确定了700密度等级,不同粒径(10～15 mm、15～25 mm)的渣土陶粒配方和工艺.在上述基础上,通过超景深光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察分析了700密度等级,不同粒径下渣土陶粒的表面和内部微观结构.研究结果表明:(1)焙烧温度分别为1200 ℃和1230 ℃,渣土-粉煤灰质量比例相应为70:30和60:40时,可分别获得粒径为15～25 mm、10～15 mm两种粒径,密度等级均为700的渣土陶粒;(2)渣土陶粒的筒压强度和密度随着粒径的减小而逐渐增加,筒压强度由15～25 mm下的4.3 MPa增加到4.9 MPa;烧失量和1 h吸水率随着粒径的减小而逐渐降低;(3)随着粒径的减小,相同密度等级的渣土陶粒表面和内部结构不同.大粒径陶粒表面和内部结构中含有的孔隙较多,孔径尺寸较大.     

Phase evolution and microstructural characterization of sintered ceramic bodies from contaminated marine sediments

The phase evolution during firing of ceramic bodies from three different contaminated marine sediments was investigated as a function of temperature. The mineralogical evolution examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that quartz, which is a main crystalline phase in the original marine sediments, remains as a main phase in the sintered bodies. In addition, a glassy phase and new crystalline phases appear as result of different chemical reactions during firing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a homogeneous microstructure composed by pores, crystals and a ceramic matrix. Energy X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses permitted to distinguish the crystalline phases previously identified by XRD and also minor phases, which were not detected in the X-ray diffractograms.     

颗粒级配对高掺量粉煤灰干混砂浆性能影响的研究

依据颗粒紧密堆积理论,一般采用Andreasen方程计算粉体紧密堆积用于表征粉体颗粒的级配作用.通过研究不同粒径粉煤灰对高粉煤灰掺量干混砂浆的性能影响,研究得出:颗粒太细的粉煤灰,会更加偏离原来的紧密堆积状态,不但不能充分发挥其微观填充的补强作用,反而大大降低强度.因此,使用粉煤灰与水泥复合掺配时,特别是高粉煤灰掺量,需要考虑颗粒与颗粒之间的相互补充作用,使胶凝材料的颗粒粒径分布更趋近于紧密堆积,从而提高基体材料的密实度,保持较高干混砂浆性能.