Neutron activation analysis and radioactivity measurements of Australian coals and fly ashes

Forty elements were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in a wide range of Australian coals and fly ash to update and extend earlier measurements. The natural radioactivity content of selected samples were analysed by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry and low level radiochemistry. The results indicated a marked disequilibrium of the²³²Th decay series in some samples while a general enrichment of²¹⁰Pb in most fly ash samples disrupted the²³⁸U equilibrium.     

Thermal studies of fly ashes expansion

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The object of this study is to investigate the thermal properties of fly ashes from the last, farthest dedusting zone in terms of their use as ceramic...     

Thermal analysis of some fly ashes

The thermal behavior of different fly ashes from the electrical precipitators of various pulverized carbon fuel-fired boilers was investigated by means of simultaneous TG, DTG, DTA and EGA analysis. The carbon and sulfur contents of the samples were determined by gastitrimetry. The compositions of the samples were examined by X-ray diffraction. The quantitative oxide analysis of the ashes was carried out by means of a classical method.     

Thermal analysis of some fly ashes

The self-hardening activity of fly ashes was investigated looking for the possibility of their chemical reactions with water without additives. A method had to be developed for separation of the structural water from the adsorbed or free one. The decomposition of the chemically bound water was measured by thermogravimetry. The‘I’ dimensionless number proved to be applicable for the quantitative characterisation of the measured data with more DTG peaks. The examined reaction depends on the chemical composition and the physical structure of the fly ashes and the time of interaction with water. The SO₃ content seems important, but the characteristics of the formed compounds differ deeply from the CaSO₄·2H₂O. The observed and examined reaction is an important factor of the self-hardening process of fly ash deposits.     

Radioactivity of coal and ashes from Figueira coal power plant in Brazil

Summary The Figueira coal-fired power plant (CFPP) is among the Brazilian CFPP which presents higher uranium concentration. Gamma-ray spectrometry was used to determine ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Pb, ²³² Th and ⁴⁰K contents in pulverized coal, furnace bottom ash and fly ash samples. The natural radionuclide concentrations in pulverized coal ranged from 813 to 2609 Bq ^. kg^-1 for U series and from 22 to 40 Bq ^. kg^-1 for ²³² Th. The fly ash fraction gave concentrations ranging from 1442 to 14641 Bq ^. kg^-1, for uranium series. The same enrichment factor was observed for ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra and ²³² Th. Only ²¹⁰Pb and stable Pb presented a high enrichment factor for the last stage filter fly ash. The concentration of the uranium series found in the ashes is close to the limit adopted by the Brazilian guideline (CNEN-NN-4.01).²² Therefore, it is advisable to evaluate the environmental impact of the installation.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of fly ashes and emissions

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been utilized for the analysis of 19 different fly ashes, 1 sample of coal and 3 samples of industrial emissions. Both short and long irradiations in a nuclear reactor have been used. The irradiated samples have been measured by means of a computer-based Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometer. The concentrations of 27 elements have been determined in the samples.     

Neutron activation analysis of bottom and fly oil ashes

The concentrations of 25 elements in 7 oil ash samples were determinedby computerized systematic instrumental absolute neutron activation analysis.In the oil ash samples, the following mean concentrations (in ppm) of elementswere found: Al: 39531, As: 109, Ba: 1391, Ca: 29701, Ce: 295, Co: 1294, Cr:1485, Cs: 7.9, Dy: 4.5, Eu: 1.2, Fe: 53094, Ga: 146, Hf: 2.2, La: 1534, Mn:547, Na: 40277, Sb: 360, Sc: 2.3, Sm: 21, Sr: 674, Ta: 15.8, V: 130548, W:4.1, Yb: 0.9 and Zn: 3125. These findings were compared with the concentrationsof elements found in coal ash samples. The concentrations of Co, Na and Vwere significantly higher in the oil ash samples, while the concentrationof Sc was lower. The purpose of this study has been to determine the backgroundlevels of different elements in oil ash, in order to evaluate its potentialimpact on the environment.     

Physico-chemical characterization of crystalline phases in fly ashes

Fuel oil combustion in power plants, domestic heating systems and diesel engines, causes the emission in the environment of particles with a typical structure and composition: the cenospheres.These particles are produced during the microdrop fuel oil combustion, when air and fuel are injected into the combustion chamber; they have a spheroidal morphology and a spongy structure.Cenospheres are constituted by an amorphous component rich in C, S, Si, Fe and Al; phases composed by microcrystals of sulphates, oxides and pure metallic elements or their alloys, are frequently present in the cenospheres.These crystalline phases are important from environmental and toxicological points of view both because they are composed of heavy metals, and because they can play an important role in heterogeneous catalysis.We started to study these crystalline phases by analytical electron microscopy techniques and electron energy loss spectrometry to define and characterise their structure and composition.     

Trace elements of coal,coal ashes and fly ashes by activation analysis with short-lived nuclides

On irradiation with neutrons, some of the interesting trace elements in coal, coal ash and fly ash produce short-lived nuclides which may be determined—together with some of the matrix elements—by activation analysis. This enables the characterization of samples. To find out the distribution of elements in the gaseous or aerosol exhaust of fossil-fired power plants, we simulated the combustion in a quartz apparatus containing a cold trap, using the combustion temperature (780 °C) employed for the standard ash determination. High Se values were found in the cold trap deposits from black coal from Poland. Halogens were also found in the deposits.     

Concentrations and distributions of trace and minor elements in Chinese and Canadian coals and ashes

A total of 35 trace and minor elements including some of environmental significance were determined in each of a selection of 15 Chinese and 6 Canadian thermal coals and their ashes by using the SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor facility of the University of Toronto. The concentrations and distributions of these constituents among the coals and their combustion products (viz. ash and volatile matter) are presented together with an interpretation of their significance in relation to the large scale combustion of these coals as thermal fuels in industrialized countries such as China and Canada. The detailed results showed wide variations in trace impurity concentrations (up to a factor of 100 and more) among the coals studied with few large differences between those of Chinese and Canadian origin except that the rare earths, Sc, Th, U, I, and Se were much higher in the former, other halogens, As and Na were lower. Values for elemental enrichment factors (EF) relative to normal crustal abundances indicated that only As(EF=13), Br(5.7), I(16), S(230), Sb(11) and Se(320) were appreciably enriched in coal. During static ashing at 750°C most of the halogens, S and Se were volatilized whereas most other inorganic constituents were highly retained and concentrated in the ash by factors of 6 to 11.     

Observation of nano copper in waste heat boiler fly ashes

Fly ashes collected from waste heat boilers in the incineration process may possess representative chemical structure of toxic metals during incineration and their changes in the quench process at 1125–553 K and 503–493 K, respectively. Note that copper may play an important role in catalytic formation of dioxins during incineration. Speciation of copper in the fly ashes has, therefore, been studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the present work. About 24% of nano copper in the fly ash was observed by least-squares-fitted XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structural) spectroscopy. Sintering of the fly ash at 1423 K for 30 min led to a reduction of the nano CuO content to 8%.     

Study of mercury adsorption by selected Chinese coal fly ashes

Recent research has shown that fly ash produced in coal-fired power plants can play an important role in mercury removal. The aim of this study was to establish the relationships between fly ashes produced from different coals and boiler types and their mercury adsorption capacity. In order to achieve this objective, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and a mercury measurement system were employed to characterize the samples. The results show that the average pore size of fly ash is the single most important factor with residual carbon content fulfilling a secondary role in the capture of elemental mercury. The addition of HBr with fly ash can remarkably enhance the mercury adsorption performance of fly ash.     

Investigations of the influence of different fly ashes on cement hydration

Investigations of physico-chemical properties of three kinds of fly ash and their influence on cement hydration were performed in this work. Thermal analysis, microcalorimetry, infrared absorption and others were used. It was confirmed that the kind of coal and combustion conditions essentially influence physico-chemical properties of fly ash and in consequence influence cement hydration. Investigated fly ashes show in cement system so-called pozzolanic activity. Fly ash from combustion of brown coal in fluidized furnace revealed better activity compared to other investigated ones. This work is an introduction to more extensive investigation of fly ash activation.     

垃圾焚烧炉飞灰熔融特性及重金属的分布

对垃圾焚烧炉飞灰进行了差热分析及熔融实验,探讨了不同熔融温度对试样的灼烧减量及重金属分布特性的影响。结果表明,飞灰试样在1132℃时熔融,在1252℃～1290℃发生二次熔融。灼烧减量在1200℃达到最低值27.5％; Cr、Ni、Cu在熔融体中的固溶率随着沸点的升高而依次升高。重金属Pb、Cd、As、Hg挥发率均超过95％,挥发性依次为Pb>Cd>As>Hg;飞灰中Zn的氧化物熔融后转化为Zn2SiO4、ZnSiO3和ZnAl2O4等不易挥发的化合物,且Zn在1200℃时挥发率最低仅有66.7％。     

Studies on the pozzolanic and hydraulic properties of fly ashes in model systems

In this work, the pozzolanic and hydraulic properties of ashes originating from various sources were studied in model systems such as ash and ash-lime pastes. The sources of studied ashes were: fluidized combustion of brown coal, pulverized combustion of brown coal and pulverized combustion of hard coal. This article is a continuation of our previously published studies on cement pastes with mentioned ashes. The following experimental techniques were applied: calorimetry, thermal analysis (TG, DTG) and infrared absorption (IR). Previously drawn conclusions relating to the reactivity of ashes in an environment containing Ca²⁺ ions were confirmed. According to these conclusions, an ash originating from fluidized combustion of coal exhibited higher reactivity compared to other ashes from pulverized combustion. Pozzolanic and hydraulic properties of this ash were also confirmed. Differences in the behaviour of ashes originating from pulverized combustion of various types of coal in the presence of water and Ca²⁺ rich environment were demonstrated.     

Influence of two different fly ashes on the hydration of portland cements

Fly ashes from the combustion of coal thermal power stations are commonly incorporated into portland cements and/or concretes and mortars. The chemical and morphological composition of fly ashes, together with their particle size, make them suitable as pozzolanic(non-calcic) or pozzolanic/hydraulic(highly calcic) additions to manufacture such building materials. This work focuses on the incorporation of two different fly ashes (non-calcic but of very different Fe₂O₃(%) contents, fineness and morphology) to two ordinary portland cements (of very different mineralogical composition as well), to determine the effects those have and the interactions they produce in the hydration reactions of portland cement. The main techniques employed for this study have been: conduction calorimetry and Frattini test; secondary techniques applied have also been: determination of setting times and analysis by X-ray diffraction and SEM. Analysis of the results obtained permitted to find different effects of fly ash addition on the hydration reactions of portland cements. Thus, dilution and stimulation effects augment with the increased fly ash percentage. Delay and acceleration of the reactions depend mainly on the type of portland cement and are accentuated with increased fly ash contents. Their behaviour as concerns heat dissipation mainly, depends on the type of fly ash used and is more pronounced with increased cement replacement. On the other hand, the pozzolanic activity of these fly ashes has been revealed at 7 and 28 days, but not at 2 days. Finally, pozzolanic cements can be manufactured using different portland cements and/or types of fly ashes, in the appropriate proportions and compatible qualities, depending on the effect(s) one wish to enhance at a specific age, which is according to previous general conclusions drew out of sulphate attack and chloride attack researches. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Use of DTA in the investigations of fly ashes from fluidized bed boilers

DTA method was used to follow the hydration process of cement admixtures containing fluidized bed combustion by-product, formed on joined combustion and desulphurisation in some installations with fluidized bed. Based on endothermic peaks attributed to the dehydration of phases formed on hydration, the conditions leading to the formation of so-called ‘delayed’ ettringite were found. This calcium alumino-sulphate hydrate is responsible for lower durability of fluidized bed ash containing material. DTA method is also beneficial in the studies of fluidized bed combustion by-product itself, giving information about the un-burnt carbon content and pozzolanic properties. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Application of surface complexation modeling on the leaching of radionuclides from fly ashes

Surface complexation modeling based on diffuse double layer model (DDLM) has been employed to simulate the leaching behaviors of radionuclides (i.e., ⁶⁰Co²⁺, ⁶³Ni²⁺, ⁶⁴Cu²⁺ and UO₂ ²⁺) on fly ashes from hospital wastes. The fly ashes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), potentiometric acid–base titration, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of pH, the ratio of solid-to-liquid (RSL), and particle size on the leaching of radionuclides was also conducted under the batch techniques. According to XRD patterns analysis, the main components of fly ashes was determined to be quartz and clay minerals such as kaolinite, illite and smectite. The site density and pH_PNZC (pH at point of net zero charge) of fly ashes calculated from potentiometric titration data was found to be 4.53 × 10^?4 mol/g and 7.4, respectively. One can see that the small amount of metal oxides attached on the surface of fly ashes by SEM images, corrosion surface of fly ashes was observed after leaching experiments. Results of the batch leaching experiments indicated that the leaching amount of radionuclides in fly ashes significantly depended on pH, the ratio of solid-to-liquid, and particle size. It is found that the leaching amount of radionuclides decreased in the order of ⁶⁴Cu²⁺ ? ⁶³Ni²⁺ > ⁶⁰Co²⁺ > UO₂ ²⁺ under the different pH, the RSL or particle size conditions. In this paper, DDLM has successfully been applied to describe the leaching behaviors of radionuclides from fly ashes. This research provides critical information for application of surface complexation modeling on the simulation of radionuclides leaching from fly ashes, which would clarify the leaching mechanism of radionuclides from fly ashes.