scholarly journals Multi-Scale Minero-Chemical Analysis of Biomass Ashes: A Key to Evaluating Their Dangers vs. Benefits

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6052
Author(s):  
Paola Comodi ◽  
Azzurra Zucchini ◽  
Umberto Susta ◽  
Costanza Cambi ◽  
Riccardo Vivani ◽  
...  

A multi-methodic analysis was performed on five samples of fly ashes coming from different biomasses. The aim of the study was to evaluate their possible re-use and their dangerousness to people and the environment. Optical granulometric analyses indicated that the average diameter of the studied fly ashes was around 20 µm, whereas only ~1 vol% had diameters lower that 2.5 µm. The chemical composition, investigated with electron probe microanalysis, indicated that all the samples had a composition in which Ca was prevalent, followed by Si and Al. Large contents of K and P were observed in some samples, whereas the amount of potentially toxic elements was always below the Italian law thresholds. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were completely absent in all the samples coming from combustion plants, whereas they were present in the fly ashes from the gasification center. Quantitative mineralogical content, determined by Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data, indicated that all the samples had high amorphous content, likely enriched in Ca, and several K and P minerals, such as sylvite and apatite. The results obtained from the chemo-mineralogical study performed make it possible to point out that biomass fly ashes could be interesting materials (1) for amendments in clayey soils, as a substitution for lime, to stimulate pozzolanic reactions and improve their geotechnical properties, thus, on the one hand, avoiding the need to mine raw materials and, on the other hand, re-cycling waste; and (2) as agricultural fertilizers made by a new and ecological source of K and P.

Author(s):  
Paola Comodi ◽  
Azzurra Zucchini ◽  
Umberto Susta ◽  
Costanza Cambi ◽  
Riccardo Vivani ◽  
...  

A multi-methodic analysis was performed on 5 samples of fly ashes coming from different biomasses. The aim of the study was to evaluate their possible re-use and their dangerousness for men and environment. Optical granulometric analyses indicate that the average diameter of the studied fly ashes is around 20 µm, whereas only ~1 vol% has diameter lower that 2.5 µm. The chemical composition, investigated with electron probe microanalysis, indicates that all the samples have a prevalent Ca composition, followed by Si and Al. A large content in K and P was observed in some samples, whereas the content in potentially toxic elements is always below the Italian law thresholds. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are completely absent in all the samples coming from combustion plants, whereas they are present in the fly ashes from the gasification center. Quantitative mineralogical content, determined by Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data, indicates that all the samples have a large amorphous content, likely enriched in Ca, and several K and P minerals, such as sylvite and apatite. The results obtained from the performed chemo-mineralogical study allowed to point out that the biomass fly ashes could be interesting materials (1) as amending in clayey soils, in substitution to lime, to stimulating pozzolanic reaction and improve their geotechnical properties, on the one hand, avoiding to mine raw materials and, on the other hand, re-cycling wastes; (2) as agricultural fertilizes made by a new and ecological source of K and P.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C949-C949
Author(s):  
Jordi Ibanez ◽  
Jose Fernandez-Turiel ◽  
Josep Elvira ◽  
Marta Rejas ◽  
Soledad Alvarez

The characterization of the mineralogy and chemical composition of multi-phase mixtures is of chief importance in many different contexts, from industry to basic research. In the case of industrial processes, it is often necessary to perform fast and reliable quantitative phase analyses (QPAs) in large amounts of samples that contain amorphous phases. Rietveld refinement from powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) data is widely employed for this purpose. The quantification of the amorphous content with the Rietveld method is usually performed by spiking the samples with an internal standard, and this implies increased processing times. Alternatively, in samples exhibiting the typical, broad XRD signal from the amorphous (glassy) matrix, a poorly-crystalline structure can be used to represent the amorphous phase during the Rietveld analysis [1]. This procedure provides highly consistent data, but is limited because the particular crystal structure used for the QPAs is strongly sample dependent. Recently, it has been shown that fast Rietveld QPAs of coal fly ashes can be carried out with no sample spiking by initially calibrating the XRD signal from the glass [2]. In this work, we evaluate the usefulness of the calibration Rietveld-based approach on two different types of samples: fly ashes from coal combustion plants, and volcanic ashes. While the mineralogy of the fly ashes considered here is relatively simple (they mainly contain quartz, mullite and glass), the volcanic ashes contain sizable amounts of crystalline compounds with both simple and complex structures, including quartz, feldspars, biotite, pyroxene or iron oxides. We show that the calibration approach provides a suitable method to assess in a fast and consistent manner the amount of crystalline and amorphous phases in both types of samples. This method may be extended to industrial characterization processes involving large numbers of complex samples, reducing considerably the analytical times.


2019 ◽  
pp. 47-71
Author(s):  
Petr M. Mozias

China’s Belt and Road Initiative could be treated ambiguously. On the one hand, it is intended to transform the newly acquired economic potential of that country into its higher status in the world. China invites a lot of nations to build up gigantic transit corridors by joint efforts, and doing so it applies productively its capital and technologies. International transactions in RMB are also being expanded. But, on the other hand, the Belt and Road Initiative is also a necessity for China to cope with some evident problems of its current stage of development, such as industrial overcapacity, overdependence on imports of raw materials from a narrow circle of countries, and a subordinate status in global value chains. For Russia participation in the Belt and Road Initiative may be fruitful, since the very character of that project provides us with a space to manoeuvre. By now, Russian exports to China consist primarily of fuels and other commodities. More active industrial policy is needed to correct this situation . A flexible framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is more suitable for this objective to be achieved, rather than traditional forms of regional integration, such as a free trade zone.


Author(s):  
Paola Sangiorgio ◽  
Alessandra Verardi ◽  
Salvatore Dimatteo ◽  
Anna Spagnoletta ◽  
Stefania Moliterni ◽  
...  

AbstractThe increase in the world population leads to rising demand and consumption of plastic raw materials; only a small percentage of plastics is recovered and recycled, increasing the quantity of waste released into the environment and losing its economic value. The plastics represent a great opportunity in the circular perspective of their reuse and recycling. Research is moving, on the one hand, to implement sustainable systems for plastic waste management and on the other to find new non-fossil-based plastics such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). In this review, we focus our attention on Tenebrio molitor (TM) as a valuable solution for plastic biodegradation and biological recovery of new biopolymers (e.g. PHA) from plastic-producing microorganisms, exploiting its highly diversified gut microbiota. TM’s use for plastic pollution management is controversial. However, TM microbiota is recognised as a source of plastic-degrading microorganisms. TM-based plastic degradation is improved by co-feeding with food loss and waste as a dietary energy source, thus valorising these low-value substrates in a circular economy perspective. TM as a bioreactor is a valid alternative to traditional PHA recovery systems with the advantage of obtaining, in addition to highly pure PHA, protein biomass and rearing waste from which to produce fertilisers, chitin/chitosan, biochar and biodiesel. Finally, we describe the critical aspects of these TM-based approaches, mainly related to TM mass production, eventual food safety problems, possible release of microplastics and lack of dedicated legislation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. De La Torre ◽  
S. Bruque ◽  
M. A. G. Aranda

A procedure for Rietveld quantitative amorphous content analysis (RQACA) is outlined, in which the effects of systematic errors in the powder patterns are studied. The method derives the amorphous content from the small overestimation of an internal crystalline standard in a Rietveld refinement of an appropriate mixture. Of several standards studied, Al2O3gave the best results. The statistical analysis of standard mixtures with a known amount of amorphous content indicated that this is a precise and accurate tool. It enables the measurement of the amorphous content with an accuracy close to 1%. Sample preparation and Rietveld analysis need to be optimized in order to minimize the systematic errors. The analysis of samples with phases displaying strong preferred orientation effects gives very high errors in the amorphous content. Samples with different absorption coefficients have also been studied in order to evaluate the importance of microabsorption. This plays an important role but it can be adequately corrected if the absorption coefficients of the standard and the sample are not very different. RQACA has been applied to tricalcium silicate, C3S, which is the main component of Portland cement. The average amorphous content of C3S, after microabsorption correction using two standards of higher and lower absorption coefficients, was found to be 19%.


Due to manufactured technology enchantment the living being has much convenience and luxury. Though, at the same time, our current existence is doing damage to the environment. Like water pollution, air pollution and Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on so forth. But CO2 emissions are the one of the major reason polluting the environment. Furthermost of what we utilise in our daily life lead to emitting CO2 into the environment. Due to this it leads to global warming and climate change problems. Therefore, carbon auditing (Carbon Footprint Analysis) is the first essential step to review the use of energy, to improve energy conservation and to allow building to go green. For this reason we need carbon audit to reduce usage raw materials, waste generation so on so forth to minimise GHG emissions .“CARBON AUDIT” is conducted within the building’s boundary which includes the following stages:- People Survey to gather employee-level data, Building Survey to gather building-operation data, Carbon Footprint Analysis to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and Final Carbon Audit Report to provide tailored recommendations for going green along with action plan to get started


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (520) ◽  
pp. 175-187
Author(s):  
R. V. Lohosha ◽  
◽  
I. A. Semchuk ◽  

The article is aimed at defining the priorities for the development of the biofuel market in Ukraine to ensure the energy security of the country and satisfy the country’s energy needs. Prospects for the bioenergy sector of the economy in the world will be determined primarily by the optimization of national policies in the matrix of multifarious criteria. The place of the Ukrainian model is highly likely to be determined, on the one hand, by the development of the national market, on the other hand, by the production of raw materials for world biofuel markets. At the same time, this market and production in Ukraine remains only a potentially promising model that requires a scientific substantiation for its efficiency. As a result of the study, it is specified that the bioenergy industry has serious limitations and problems of economic nature that require scientific substantiation. After analyzing the limitations and prospects of the industry development in Ukraine at the level of agricultural enterprises that could deploy biofuel production, it should be emphasized that: 1) there is currently no biofuel market in Ukraine: there is no significant production, hence the proposal still remains unformed; there are no agents (firms, enterprises) of the market that would form the established demand; the necessary norms, institutions, mechanisms of the representative market have not been developed; 2) there is no successful experience of such a business both in Ukraine in general and in agricultural enterprises in particular. From here, as well as taking into account the above-mentioned aspects, the attractiveness of this business, including investment, needs to be justified. Enterprises of this group will face funding problems, as well as technical and technological support problems. Therefore, special careful economic substantiation of the market efficiency model and business processes is required; 3) because of these reasons, the task of scientific substantiation of the model of efficient management of this business becomes highly topical.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (3) ◽  
pp. 138-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serhii Korablin

The article considers financial aspects of the implementation of the People's Republic of China's international initiative of "One Belt, One Way". China's impressive economic success over the last 30 years has shown how it grew into a major global exporter and investor, gaining the second-country status in terms of national GDP and imports. These changes took place against the backdrop of rapid economic growth and deep structural reforms, which were accompanied by increased output and exports of high value-added products. Under these conditions, the country naturally prefers to reorient the global economic system in such a way that it is more conducive to China's economic, financial and political interests. A key practical tool for implementing such a plan is the One Belt, One Way initiative, which is to ensure simultaneous access to (a) Western technologies, (b) global raw materials markets, (c) infrastructure capacities that should maximize the deliveries of Chinese produce to all corners of the world economy. However, such an ambitious plan requires an extraordinary amount of financial resources. Despite China's considerable international reserves (over $3 trillion), its volume is still insufficient to cope with such a task. Moreover, the country itself needs further assimilation of foreign investment and technology due to the relatively low level of capital intensity of its workforce. China will be able to solve this dilemma if it manages to create a system of "counter investment", that is, attraction and absorption of foreign investments from more technologically developed countries, which are denominated in the main reserve currencies, and simultaneously realize their own foreign investments in Yuan, offering their users deliveries of own products of slightly lower technological complexity than those received from foreign investors. This publication was prepared based on the presentation of "The Belt and Road Initiative - A New Shape of Globalization?" presented at the Institute of World Economics and Policy (IWEP) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in May 2019 as part of the International Economic and Economic Conference on "Economic and Trade Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative: Retrospect and Prospect".


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92
Author(s):  
Sawitri Dwi indah Pertami ◽  
I Ketut Sudiana ◽  
Theresia Indah Budhy ◽  
Retno Palupi ◽  
Ira Arundina

Benzopyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compound that can cause transformation of normal cells into malignant in order to its genotoxic,mutagenic,and carsinogenic ability.  DNA mutation in tumor suppressor genes p53 make cells immortal which results in cell transformation and develops into malignancies. This study consist of five groups including the control group (without benzopyrene injection) and 4 treatment groups injected with benzopyrene each for 4 weeks (P1), 6 weeks (P2), 8 weeks (P3) and 10 weeks (P4).  Therefore, the mutant p53 expression was calculated and analyzed statistically with the One Way Anova Test. There was signifficance difference in mutant p53 expression of oral transformed epithelium cell injected by benzopyrene (p=0.000) and the highest expression was at 10th week. It can be concluded that the mutant P53 expression of oral transformed epithelium cells in rats was increased after injected by benzopyrene


2021 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 215-222
Author(s):  
Mohanad R.A. Al-Owaidi ◽  
◽  
Mohammed L. Hussein ◽  
Ruaa Issa Muslim ◽  
◽  
...  

The Portland cement industry is one of the strategic industries in any country. The basis of an industry success is the availability of raw materials and, the low extraction in addition to transportation costs. The Bahr Al-Najaf region is abundant with limestone rocks but lacks primary gypsum. An investigation had been carried out to identify the source of secondary gypsum as an alternative to primary gypsum. Twelve boreholes were drilled for a depth of 2 m, as the thickness of suitable secondary gypsum layer ranges from 1 to 1.5 m. The mineralogical study revealed the predominance of gypsum followed by quartz and calcite, with an average of 62.9%, 19.6% and 14.35%, respectively. The geochemical analysis revealed that the content of SO3 is appropriate and ranging from 41.92% to 32.89% with an average of 37.73%. The SO3 content is within an acceptable range. The mean abundance of the major oxides of the study area may be arranged as SO3 > CaO> SiO2> MgO> Al2O> Fe2O3. The insoluble residue was at an acceptable rate. The laboratory experiments for milling secondary gypsum with clinker has successfully proven the production of Portland cement that matches the limits of the Iraqi Quality Standard (IQS) No. 5 of 1984. Great care must be taken when using secondary gypsum; secondary gypsum must be mixed well to maintain the chemical properties before blending with clinker and utilizing in the cement mill in the cement plant.


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