Effect of partial replacement of di(2‐ethyl hexyl)phthalate,by a polymeric plasticizer,on the permeability and leaching properties of poly(vinyl chloride)

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) was used as a polymeric plasticizer in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) for the partial replacement of di(2‐ethyl hexyl)phthalate (DEHP). The effect of this partial replacement on DEHP leaching from the PVC was evaluated at 10, 25, and 40°C. The study shows that the incorporation of NBR reduces the rate of DEHP leaching, the reduction being prominent at lower temperatures. Gas permeability of the NBR‐modified samples was also evaluated at the above temperatures using oxygen and carbon dioxide. A reduction in gas permeability is observed in NBR‐modified samples compared to the PVC plasticized with DEHP alone particularly in the case of carbon dioxide. Water vapor transmission rates of the NBR‐modified samples are higher than that of the control sample. The NBR‐modified PVC sample was found to be noncytotoxic in the in vitro cytotoxic evaluation both by direct contact and test on extract methods. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:4720–4727, 2006     

Bauxite residue (red mud) increases phosphorus retention in sandy soil catchments in Western Australia

The Peel-Harvey estuary on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia has become eutrophic partly because of the leaching of fertiliser phosphorus from sandy soils. The acid, coarse textured sandy soils are predominantly quartz, have a low iron and aluminium content and do not retain phosphorus. Red mud, derived from bauxite, is a by-product of the alumina industry and has the ability to retain phosphorus. Retention of phosphorus is enhanced when the red mud is neutralised with gypsum. Red mud has been suggested as a soil amendment to reduce phosphorus leaching.To investigate the reduction in the leaching of phosphorus from soils amended with red mud, weirs were constructed at the outlets from a pair of catchments to quantify the amount of phosphorus in the streamflow. Both catchments were deep grey Bassendean sand. One of the catchments was treated with 80 t/ha of red mud which had been neutralised with waste gypsum from the phosphate industry. The red mud was applied to the soil surface using conventional fertiliser spreading equipment. The other catchment was untreated.The red mud reduced phosphorus loss by 70% from 13.8 kg/ha on the untreated catchment, to 4.2 kg/ha on the treated catchment. Both catchments were treated with 20.4 kg/ha of phosphorus as superphosphate. The catchment treated with red mud also received a further 41.5 kg/ha of phosphorus from the phosphogypsum that was used to neutralise the red mud.Our results show that red mud reduces phosphorus leaching and is potentially a nutrient management option in sandy soils. Red mud has the potential to reduce the impact of agriculture on the estuarine environment and has implications for the continued expansion and intensification of agriculture in the Peel-Harvey catchment.     

富锰渣制备硫酸锰过程中除杂方法新探

研究了以富锰渣为原料,经硫酸浸出制备硫酸锰的工艺过程中除杂方法。分别探讨了以MnO2、H2O2、空气为氧化剂,以NH3.H2O、Ca(OH)2、富锰渣等为中和除杂剂,控制pH在5~6,中和除杂温度为50~60℃,保温时间1~1.5 h情况下,采用不同的除杂剂及除杂条件,取得了不同的除杂效果。     

软锰矿浸出制备软磁铁氧体用碳酸锰的研究

研究了以低品位软锰矿石为原料,配入植物粉料,用硫酸直接浸出软锰矿制备软磁铁氧体用碳酸锰的新工艺方法。探讨了软锰矿直接酸浸、含锰浸出液净化除杂、锰净化液碳化结晶等工艺条件。所制备的产品经X 射线衍射、粒度分析及化学成分分析等测试,结果表明,产品质量达到GB10503 89Ⅰ型品的要求。在优惠工艺条件下,锰的回收率达90%以上。     

An electrochemical study of the dissolution of gold in thiosulfate solutions. Part II. Effect of Copper

Thiosulfate has been considered as one of the most promising of the non-toxic alternatives to cyanide for the leaching of gold and much work has been carried out with the aim of understanding and improving the ammoniacal thiosulfate leaching process. In particular the behaviour of gold in thiosulfate solutions containing copper in the absence of ammonia has received little attention. It has been shown in this study involving electrochemical and leaching tests that copper ions catalyze not only the oxidation of thiosulfate but also the dissolution of gold in alkaline thiosulfate solutions. Electrochemical studies have shown that copper has a positive effect on the anodic dissolution of gold with increasing concentrations of copper resulting in higher dissolution rates of gold at a potential of 0.3V. Studies on the dissolution of gold powder in alkaline oxygenated thiosulfate solutions containing low concentrations of copper have shown that the role of copper in enhancing the dissolution rate of gold is possibly associated with the formation of a copper–thiosulfate–oxygen intermediate which is more reactive in terms of cathodic reduction than dissolved oxygen. The electrochemical experiments have been complemented by a leaching study which has shown that milling of gold powder in the presence of copper (added as ions, metal, or oxide) assists with the dissolution of gold in thiosulfate solutions.     

Exploration of mesoporous structure of tunisian raw and acid-leached phosphate ore particles

Rock phosphate fractions were examined for their porous structure by nitrogen adsorption. The pore size distribution and the shape of pores does not seem to depend on the particle size. The specific surface area values present two regions, one above and one below that of the particles with 125 μrn diameter. Particles of a given size were leached with dilute phosphoric acid (1.5 mass% P₂O₅) at 25°C. It was observed that there is a widening of the initial pores during leaching. The particles collected at the initial period of the reaction are pitted and those collected at the final period are disintegrated.     

Laboratory study of soil acidification and leaching of nutrients from a soil amended with various surface-incorporated acidifying agents

Granular S, finely-ground S, iron sulphate and aluminium sulphate were added at two rates to the surface (0–6 cm) of a soil and acidification and leaching of nutrients were measured over 12 months in a laboratory study. Iron and aluminium sulphate both rapidly lowered soil pH in the top 0–6 cm of the soil. There was little difference in soil pH after 3 and 12 months reaction of these two amendments. In contrast, for granular S and finely-ground S there were clear decreases in soil pH between 3 and 12 months reaction with the soil. Finely-ground S was oxidized in the soil faster than granular S and therefore had a more acidifying effect. The top 0–6 cm of the soil was acidified by all the agents used but the deeper soil was less affected. The only treatments which lowered the pH of the 12–18 cm layer below pH 6 were the high rates of iron and aluminium sulphate. Soil acidification resulted in a decrease in exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, an increase in exchangeable Al and a decrease in effective CEC in the acidified soil layers.At both levels of addition, total ionic strength of percolates from the soil followed the order: aluminium sulphate = iron sulphate > finely gound S > granular S > control and was higher at the higher rate of addition. The pH values of percolates followed the order: control > granular S > finely ground S > iron sulphate = aluminium sulphate and were lower at the higher rate of addition. For the amended soils there was a very close relationship between the pattern and total amounts of SO ₄ ^2- and Ca²⁺ leached.It was concluded that granular S is not an effective acidifying agent since it is oxidized very slowly in the soil and that acidfying agents should be incorporated to the depth that acidification is required.     

IN SITU LEACHING OF URANIUM USING DILUTE SULFURIC ACID AND MOLECULAR OXYGEN

The technical feasibility of in situ uranium leaching using dilute sulfuric acid and molecular oxygen has been assessed and the important process parameters examined by use of laboratory high pressure leaching columns.

The dilute H₂SO₄/O₂ lixiviant was effective in leaching uranium from the ore samples tested. The leaching process was chemical reaction rate limited and can be represented using pseudo first-order kinetics. The leaching rate constant is proportional to the proton concentration of the lixiviant.

Much of the uranium was leached from the ore before decomposition of carbonate minerals by the acid was complete. Acid consumption per pound of U₃O₈ increased sharply as the uranium recovery level exceeded 70%. There appears to be a minimum oxygen pressure for effective uranium leaching. A pressure of 2758 KPa was adequate for the ore samples tested     

锌灰制备活性氧化锌新工艺

以炼锌厂废锌灰为原料，经硫酸浸取制备活性氧化锌，考察了工艺条件对锌浸出率的影响。实验结果表明：锌灰在50℃浸取，酸用量40g／L，可使锌的溶出率达92．8％。碱式碳酸锌最佳水解温度为40℃，水解时间为2h，pH为7．5时，溶液中锌质量浓度为10g／L，得到96％以上的水解率。采用该工艺制得的氧化锌符合HG／T2572-1994。     

Electric-oxidation extraction of molybdenite concentrate in alkaline NaCl electrolyte

The dissolution of molybdenite concentrate in NaCl electrolyte was investigated. The results show that the dissolution rate increases with the increase in liquid-to-solid ratio, stirring speed, NaCl concentration and temperature. When the liquid-to-solid ratio is 30:1, stirring speed is 400 r/min, concentration of NaCl is 4 mol/L at pH=9 and room temperature, the leaching efficiency of molybdenite concentrate will reach 99.5% in 240 min. Molybdenite concentrate cannot be electro-oxidized directly on the anode. The kinetic studies show that the dissolution of molybdenite concentrate is represented by shrinking core model with diffusion through a porous product layer of element sulfur, and the apparent activation energy for the dissolution reaction is 8.56 kJ/mol.