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CO2 mineralization plays a critical role in the storage and utilization of CO2. Coal fly ash (CFA) and red mud (RM) are widely utilized as CO2 mineralizers. However, the inert calcium species in CFA limit its carbonation capacity, meanwhile the substantial Ca2+ releasing of RM is hindered by a covering layer of calcium carbonate. In this study, CO2 mineralization in a composite system of CFA and RM was investigated to enhance the carbonation capacity. Multiple analyzers were employed to characterize the raw materials and resulting mineralization products. The results demonstrated that a synergistic effect existed in the composite system of CFA and RM, resulting in improving CO2 mineralization rate and efficiency. The produced calcium carbonate was ectopically attached the surface of CFA in the composite system, thus slowing down its coverage on the surface of RM. This phenomenon facilitated further releasing Ca2+ from the internal RM, thereby enhancing CO2 mineralization efficiency. Meanwhile, the inclusion of RM significantly improved the alkalinity of the composite system, which not only promoted the dissolution of Ca2+ of the inert CaSO4(H2O)2 in CFA, but also accelerated CO2 mineralization rate. The investigation would be beneficial to CO2 mineralization using industrial solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMD (acid mine drainage) with low pH and high content of heavy metals is a serious environmental problem in mining activities. Proper AMD management is crucial to ensure compliance with the standards of environmental quality before allowing the flow to the public water system. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of increasing pH and decreasing Fe alongside the concentrations of Mn in AMD with the addition of coal fly ash (CFA) and empty fruit bunch of oil palm (EFBOP). A total of four treatments, namely: (1) control (soil without treatment), (2) soil + EFBOP, (3) soil + CFA, and (4) soil + EFBOP + CFA were tested for the ability to improve AMD quality in a batch reactor experiment for 90 days. Weekly observations were carried out for pH, Fe, and Mn concentrations during the experiment, where part of AMD in the reactor was drained and replaced with fresh ones. The results showed that single treatment of EFBOP or CFA caused a pH increase at 2.8 to 5.1-5.4 and 6.3-6.8, respectively. Furthermore, a greater increase occurred from 2.8 to 7.0-7.8 when EFBOP was combined with CFA application. This combination also showed a greater reduction in the concentrations of Fe and Mn compared to the single treatment of EFBOP or CFA. The increase in pH and decrease in Fe alongside the Mn concentrations began in the 3rd week, and this effect was stable during the 90 days of the experiment. The results underscore the potential of EFBOP and CFA as agricultural and industrial wastes in long-term AMD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA) is an anthropogenic industrial byproduct that is expected to increase exponentially to fulfill the needs of energy using coal and agro-waste as a cheap fuel. The disposal of this classified human carcinogen is a major concern in developing and underdeveloped economies due to lack of resources. Recycling and value addition of industrial waste, coherence with sustainable development goals is a viable solution. Zeolitization of coal fly ash is an ideal approach for recycling this waste into superior products to be used in a variety of industrial applications. This study was aimed to recycle CFA to useful zeolites using ultrasound assisted hydrothermal process. Sesamum indicum plant stems based fly ash (rFA) was found to belong to class “F" and has very low moisture and carbon contents. To investigate the morphology and elemental composition of rFA and UHSZ, SEM/ EDX was used along with XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy which confirmed the existence of quartz, mullite and anhydrite. SEM/EDX results revealed the presence of Al, Si, S, K, Sb, Mg and Ta in raw ash. Adsorption studies of both rFA and synthesized zeolite(UHSZ) were conducted to determine the quintessential parameters of pH, time, initial dose of adsorbent for optimum results. Fabricated zeolites (2 g/100 mL) from raw fly ash removed 90–98% of chlorazol black E (DB38) from 100 mg/L solution within 40 min at pH ≈ 7. Both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms gave best fit, which validated that the adsorption of DB38 to UHSZ was a blended process rather than a simple monolayer adsorption mechanism. Pseudo 1st-order and 2nd-order kinetic models were adopted to fit the obtained kinetic data. The pseudo 2nd-order kinetic model was found to be most related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to develop and monitor an effective and cost-efficient industrial wastewater treatment system that utilizes sand, fly ash, and hearth ash. The latter two are potentially available and inexpensive industrial waste materials that can be used for filtration. The infiltration percolation method was utilized in a vertical cylindrical column to filter the raw wastewater from a detergent manufacturing plant. The main parameters analyzed before and after treatment included suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and pH. The system successfully achieved significant reductions, including 89% in COD, 73% in BOD5, and 54% in suspended solids (SS), along with a 66% to 99% reduction in heavy metals. The COD/BOD5 rejection ratio decreased from above 4.24 before treatment to below 1.73 after treatment. Furthermore, impedance measurements were carried out across the frequency range of 100 to 1 MHz. The analysis of complex conductivity spectra revealed two Cole–Cole relaxation behaviors, and an equivalent circuit was developed to extract the primary parameters and further investigate both relaxation processes. The results of the electrical parameters deduced from the impedance spectra demonstrated a strong correlation with the parameters obtained through conventional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poland is a country where the commercial power industry mainly uses coal to produce energy. As a result of energy production processes, by-products of combustion are generated, primarily fly ashes. In Poland, these are mostly obtained from conventional coal combustion boilers. Fly ashes from coal combustion account for 1.2% of all industrial waste generated in Poland. In addition, fly ashes are produced by fluidized-bed boilers. These are classified as a mixture of fly ashes and solid calcium-based reaction waste from flue-gas desulphurization, and constitute almost 2% of Polish industrial waste. This paper describes the amounts of fly ashes generated in Poland and considers activities related to their recovery and disposal. The high recovery levels of fly ashes (about 90%) and fluidized ashes (about 98%) mean that these waste products can also be considered anthropogenic raw materials. The use of these materials in the cement industry is an example of industrial symbiosis. Such usage benefits not only the economy but also the environment and, therefore, society as a whole. To describe the use of recovered fly ashes in cement plants, the authors use the anthropogenicity index, which characterizes the level of technological advancement and the substitutability of primary raw materials for secondary raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing industrial demand for rare earth elements (REE) as these elements are now integral to the manufacture of many carbon-neutral technologies. The depleting REE ores and increasing mining costs are prompting us to consider alternative sources for these valuable metals, particularly from waste streams. Although REE concentrations in most of the alternative resources are lower than current REE ores, some sources including marine sediments, coal ash, and industrial wastes, such as red mud, are emerging as promising with significant concentrations of REE. This review focuses on the alternative resources for REE, such as ocean bottom sediments, continental shelf sediments, river sediments, stream sediments, lake sediments, phosphorite deposits, industrial waste products, such as red mud and phosphogypsum, coal, coal fly ash and related materials, waste rock sources from old and closed mines, acid mine drainage, and recycling of e-waste. Possible future Moon exploration and mining for REE and other valuable minerals are also discussed. It is evident that REE extractions from both primary and secondary ores alone are not adequate to meet the current demand, and sustainable REE recovery from the alternative resources described here is also necessary to meet the growing REE demand. An attempt is made to identify the potential of these alternative resources and sustainability challenges, benefits, and possible environmental hazards to meet the growing challenges of reaching the future REE requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has become one of the most acute environmental problems. One of the pollutants coming to water bodies from industries are dyes, which are harmful to human health, living organisms, and the esthetic appearance of water. Most dyes are toxic, carcinogenic, rarely biodegradable, and highly soluble in water. Therefore, industrial wastewater treatment has become important. Adsorption technique of removal of dyes from water is simple, efficient, and inexpensive as compared to other techniques. Adsorption efficiency depends on the type and surface area of adsorbents. Iron-rich coal fly ash (IRCFA)–Polydopamine (PDA)@ Silver (Ag) nanocomposite was prepared by separating the iron-rich part (IRCFA) from coal fly ash and coated with polydopamine. IRCFA was mixed with 10 mM tris buffer solution containing 1 g dopamine. The prepared IRCFA-PDA was added to an aqueous solution of silver nitrate, heated at 60 °C, and then 30 mL of flower waste extract was added to this solution. Solid IRCFA-PDA@Ag was obtained, and the prepared nanocomposite was used for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from water. The nanocomposite used was prepared by a cost-effective method and has high reusability, separability, and fast regeneration ability. The mechanism of removal of MB dye has been discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the filling cost of high-water backfilling material (HWBM) in mining backfill and improve the recycling utilization of the industrial waste such as the coal fly ash. The ultra-fine fly ash (UFA) was added to the HWBM as a partial replacement in this work. Therefore, a series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of UFA on the mechanical properties of the HWBM at the different curing conditions, then the hydration mechanism of the HWBM blended with UFA was analyzed by XRD and SEM method. The result indicates that the strength of the HWBM decreased with the increasing of UFA dosages, but the addition of UFA can improve the residual strength of the initial HWBM. Additionally, when the HWBM was cured at the laboratory air condition, its carbonation process was restrained obviously as the UFA dosages were less than 15% at the ages of 28 days, which indicates the UFA can improve the weathering resistance of the HWBM with the curing ages increasing effectively. The XRD and SEM results also shows that the degree of crystallinity of the HWBM increased when UFA dosages were less than 15% effectively, while there were few obvious changes on types of hydration products. It indicates that the main affects of UFA on the performance of HWBM is filler and dilution, which reduced the contact area between hydration products of HWBM and CO2 in the air, further improved the carbonation resistance of HWBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium looping (CaL) process relying on CaO as high-temperature CO 2 sorbents is a prospective alternative technology for simultaneously cyclic CO 2 capture and thermochemical energy storage. However, the cyclic stability and the energy storage density of the CaO-based sorbents decay drastically over repeated carbonation-calcination cycles. Herein, we yielded CaO-based sorbents derived from all industrial solid wastes with carbide slag (CS) as precursor and coal fly ash (CFA) as stabilizer featuring superior carbonation characteristics, stable CO 2 cyclic uptake and high thermochemical energy storage density over multiple operation cycles. The optimal sorbent (CCS–H-G-CFA-D) exhibited a high initial CO 2 uptake of 0.38 g CO2 /g sorbent , superior cyclic stability with an average decay rate of 1.05% per cycle and remarkably stable energy storage density of 1375 kJ/kg, retaining 89.5% after 10 repeated cycles. Thereby, the simultaneously enhanced cyclic CO 2 capture and thermochemical energy storage are attributed to adding CFA stabilizers in CS-derived CaO-based sorbents, forming stable skeleton to alleviate sintering, improving the uniform mixing degree between sorbent particles and promoting the carbonation reaction via synergistic effect. This simple and eco-friendly approach of cost-effective sorbents totally derived from industrial solid wastes provides a new avenue for large-scale practical CO 2 capture and energy storage processes. Coal fly ash (CFA)-stabilized carbide slag-derived CaO-based sorbents feature superior carbonation characteristics, stable CO 2 cyclic uptake and high thermochemical energy storage density over multiple reversible operation cycles. [Display omitted] • A process coupled calcium looping and thermochemical energy storage is proposed. • Facile cost-effective strategy to synthesize all-solid-waste-derived CaO-based sorbent. • Modified carbide slag with coal fly ash is employed in coupled process. • The optimal sorbent retains 89.5% initial capacity with stable energy storage density. • New-formed solid solutions and uniform doping enhance stability by isolating CaO grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is known for high concentrations of Mn2+, NH 4 +, and heavy metals. Failure to undergo benign treatment and landfill disposal would undeniably lead to negative impacts on the quality of the surrounding ecological environment. This study sought to mitigate the latent environmental risks associated with EMR using a cooperative solidification/stabilization (S/S) method involving coal fly ash (CFA). Leveraging leaching toxicity tests, the leaching behavior of pollutants in electrolytic manganese residue-based geopolymer materials (EMRGM) was determined. At the same time, mechanistic insights into S/S processes were explored utilizing characterization techniques such as XRF, XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, and XPS. Those results confirmed significant reductions in the leaching toxicities of Mn2+ and NH 4 + to 4.64 μg/L and 0.99 mg/L, respectively, with all other heavy metal ions falling within the permissible limits set by relevant standards. Further analysis shows that most of NH 4 + volatilizes into the air as NH 3 , and a small part is fixed in the EMRGM in the form of struvite; in addition to being oxidized to MnOOH and MnO 2 , Mn2+ will also be adsorbed and wrapped by silicon-aluminum gel together with other heavy metal elements in the form of ions or precipitation. This research undeniably provides a solid theoretical foundation for the benign treatment and resourceful utilization of EMR and CFA, two prominent industrial solid wastes. [Display omitted] • The optimal formulation for preparing C-A-S-H gel using EMR and CFA is determined. • Leaching tests demonstrate the environmental friendliness of EMRGM. • The Mn2+ and NH 4 + S/S mechanisms have been analyzed and discussed. • Correlation analysis of test outcomes was conducted using the Spearman method. • Endorsement offered for the harmless and resourceful utilization of EMR and CFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymer is an emerging material that is known to have excellent properties. Numerous applications of geopolymer have been reported in various studies, for example, in the construction and building sector, nuclear waste management, and wastewater treatment industry. It gains popularity in the wastewater treatment sector as it can effectively adsorb pollutants (e.g., heavy metals). However, the performance of this material varies depending on different factors such as the type of precursors, mix formulation, process conditions, etc. Moreover, optimal selection should also consider the potential environmental impact and safety to the general public before field application. The utilization of coal fly ash and other potential material was investigated to develop a pervious geopolymer. In this study, selection of optimized geopolymer mix for heavy metal removal using TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) with a spherical fuzzy approach was employed. An illustrative case study is presented for the proposed decision modeling technique in optimally selecting pervious geopolymer mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White mud is residue discharged during the acid method in the aluminum extraction process from coal fly ash, and this material is harmful to the environment. The implementation of an environmentally friendly and valuable way to use white mud is a key factor restricting the commercial application of the acid method in the fly ash alumina extraction technology. An analysis of white mud revealed the following: (1) it was highly enriched in SiO2 (70–80%) while concentrations of acid-soluble elements, such as Na, Al, and Fe, and some hazardous heavy metals, including Pb and Cr, were significantly lower than raw fly ash; (2) approximately 80% of SiO2 had relatively high reaction activity because of the foregoing Al-extraction treatment. Through an ingenious green chemical process, the complete conversion of white mud into silicon–calcium fertilizer (SCF) was achieved under very mild reaction conditions (approximately 100 °C and atmospheric pressure). Waste liquor was totally recycled, and no secondary solid waste was generated. The SCF had an available silicon content (ASC) of 35%, significantly higher than the commercial standard (20%). Converting them into soil conditioners or ecological remediation materials with the lowest possible energy consumption and secondary pollution may be the most promising approach for the future disposal of aluminosilicate industrial solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using synthetic zeolite from fly ash to treat high concentration phosphorus wastewater does not only improve the utilization of fly ash as solid waste but also reduce the environmental pressure caused by eutrophication. A synthetic zeolite was prepared from coal fly ash by one-step hydrothermal synthesis and applied for phosphorus adsorption from industrial wastewater (∼8,000 mg-P/L), and its adsorption characteristics and performance were studied. The results indicated that the product was a well-crystallized Na-P1 zeolite with typical morphology of plate- and rod-shaped crystals. Compared with the original fly ash, the specific surface area and average pore volume of the synthetic zeolite were nine and six times larger than the fly ash, reaching 43.817 m2/g and 0.122 cm3/g. The results from phosphorus adsorption onto the synthetic zeolite showed that the synthetic zeolite had good phosphorus adsorption properties. The adsorption process highly conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with the regression coefficient R2 of 0.998. Phosphorus adsorption on the synthetic zeolite was fitted to the Langmuir monolayer adsorption model, and the regression coefficient R2 was 0.989. The maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity was 84.4 mg-P/g-zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash, commonly produced from thermal power plants, is not only an industrial waste but an aluminum-rich resource that needs to be disposed of properly. This study aims to extract aluminum from coal fly ash using pressurized sulfuric acid (H2SO4) leaching and to investigate the dissolution mechanism during the leaching process. The effects of initial concentration of H2SO4, reaction temperature and time on the extraction of aluminum were investigated. Under optimized conditions (3 mol/l H2SO4, 220°C and 180 min), the extraction of aluminum reached 82.51%. It was found that mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2) contained in coal fly ash was completely dissolved during the leaching, while the dissolution of silica-alumina glass beads was at a limited degree. The un-leached aluminum was found to be locked inside the glass beads which H2SO4 was unable to access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design of new efficient membranes from sustainable sources such as coal fly ash (CFA) has been receiving rapidly growing attention. In the present work, alumina-based tubular asymmetric membranes were incorporated with different amounts of CFA using the centrifugal casting technique. The amount of CFA added to the matrix of the alumina tubes was varied from 10 to 40 wt% on a dry weight basis. The development of the ceramic membranes containing CFA comprised the following steps: raw materials dispersion, membrane preparation by centrifugal casting using high-speed mold rotation, drying of the green body followed by sintering at 1200 °C. The techniques used for membrane characterization included measuring mechanical strength, apparent porosity, morphology by scanning electron microscopy, linear shrinkage, hydraulic performance, and cornstarch retention. High CFA fraction in the alumina-based membranes resulted in higher porosity and higher water permeability, accompanied by a decrease in mechanical strength and linear shrinkage. The observed permeate flux was between 116 and 370 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, and the observed retention was above 99% for all the membranes tested. The addition of CFA for the preparation of asymmetric tubular membranes based on alumina allows utilization of industrial waste, reduces the cost and is interesting from both an economic and environmental points of view. These membranes have the potential for applications such as wastewater treatment and as a support for selective layer coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: In this paper, the idea of the sustainability of durable solutions is very much present. The effect of four pozzolanic materials employed in four percentages in mortars made with two different reactive aggregates is assessed regarding alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The findings encountered here will help to optimize the cement-based materials mix design. The increased use of industrial wastes and by-products to produce concretes and blended cements is a lever to achieve carbon neutrality. Furthermore, they could improve their durability. Some pozzolanic additions can minimize the alkali-silica reaction (ASR), which is a well-known deleterious process that occurs between some reactive aggregates and the alkaline pore solution found in mortars and concretes. This work quantifies the efficiency of four pozzolanic materials (natural pozzolan, P, siliceous coal fly ash, V, silica fume, D, and blast-furnace slag, S) assessed by means of compressive strength testing, open porosity, ASR-expansion measurements, and SEM microscopy. Accelerated expansion tests were performed in mortar bars with a cement/sand ratio of 1/2.25 and a water/cement ratio of 0.47, two reactive aggregates and a non-reactive one. The major contributions of this paper are: (i) The more aggregate reactivity is, the higher ASR mitigation level was found when additions were added and (ii) The best additions for ASR inhibition are silica fume and fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, is a hazardous industrial solid waste. Its excessive global production, coupled with improper disposal practices, insufficient utilization and limited awareness of its inherent hazards, poses a significant threat to both ecological environment and human health. Based on the physicochemical properties of CFA and its leachates, we elucidate the forms of CFA and potential pathways for its entry into the human body, as well as the leaching behavior, maximum tolerance and biological half-life of toxic elements present in CFA. Furthermore, we provide an overview of current strategies and methods for mitigating the leaching of these harmful elements from CFA. Moreover, we systemically summarize toxic effect of CFA on organisms across various tiers of complexity, analyze epidemiological findings concerning the human health implications resulting from CFA exposure, and delve into the biotoxicological mechanisms of CFA and its leachates at cellular and molecular levels. This review aims to enhance understanding of the potential toxicity of CFA, thereby promoting increased public awareness regarding the disposal and management of this industrial waste. • The properties of CFA determine its pathway into organisms and toxicity. • High CFA levels have detrimental to soil microbial activity and plant growth. • CFA exposure causes more toxic effects on lab animals than wild animals. • CFA exposure linked to neurological issues in children and respiratory/cardiovascular problems in adults. • Endocytosis and pinocytosis are the primary means by which cells ingest CFA particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash is industrial waste produced by coal power plants, containing large amounts of magnetospheres (MSs), where Fe 3 O 4 is abundant and magnetite is the major composition. However, the functional reuses of MSs are always restricted by the impurities of aluminosilicate and other forms of iron oxide including maghemite, magnesioferrite, as well as hematite. In this paper, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process was proposed to convert MSs into a magnetic core@ carbon shell structure, which would found its application in microwave adsorption field. The prepared samples were characterized by using SEM, HRTEM, EDX, BET, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and TGA analysis. Results showed that MSs burst during the CVD process and transformed into a loose agglomeration of submicron-sized particles with a typical core@ shell structure. Crucially, instead of single sphere of MSs, the ultrafine grains of ferrospinel within MSs served as the core. The mechanism of carbon deposition of graphite shells and phase transformation of ferrospinel cores during the CVD process were revealed. Magnetism and microwave adsorption properties were tested, and the structural dependence relationship between these properties and the core@ shell structure was clearly identified. For a sample time of 60 min, the minimum absorption peak was observed as −32.4 dB at 12 GHz, with the minimum frequency bandwidth below −10 dB at 4.3 GHz. We propose a low-cost, one-step preparation of cementite core@ graphite shell composites with high-performing microwave adsorption. Our method provides an alternative option for the practical reuse of the industrial waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High-sulfur coal fly ash residues was used to fix CO 2 and produce high purity carbonates. • The extraction efficiency of calcium was significantly influenced by pH and acidic conditions favored calcium release. • Adding acid progressively slows down silicon polymerization and promotes calcium leaching. • Gaseous CO 2 can simultaneously dissolve calcium and form carbonates on the solid surface. The aim of this study is to characterize potential utilization pathways of high-sulfur fly ash from coal combustion plants for the purpose of fixing CO 2 and producing high purity carbonates via carbon mineralization process. Unlike other typical fly ashes, the feedstock in this study contains a mixture of fly ashes and desulfurization residues. We present a multi-step approach for utilizing this industrial waste to provide a sustainable and economical alternative to landfilling or generating low-value products. The solubility of gypsum from the desulfurization residue limits the dissolution behavior of calcium, therefore, developing an efficient process to extract Ca for subsequent carbonation is needed. The dissolution process of different elements (Ca, Si, Fe, Al) was conducted under different pH values ranging from 0 to 13, various reaction temperatures, slurry densities and methods of dosing leaching agents. It was found that the extraction efficiency was significantly influenced by the pH, and the acidic conditions favored calcium release. Progressively adding acid at fixed pH during dissolution can slow down the polymerization of silicon which promotes calcium leaching compared with the rapid addition of acid. Gaseous CO 2 can act as a dissolution agent to dissolve calcium and simultaneously produce nano-crystalline calcite on the surface of the fly ash as a direct carbonation approach. Stepwise dissolution and carbonation combined with a pH swing process can produce high purity calcium carbonates and the carbonate polymorphs can be adjusted via controlling operating conditions. The findings presented in this study provide implications for how to sustainably utilize high-sulfur fly ash and design processes for its utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Resource utilization of industrial wastes in energy storage system. • Synergistic adsorption-electrocatalysis effectively suppresses the shuttle effect. • MCFA separator can effectively reduce internal resistance and polarization of LSBs. • MCFA helps to improve the transformation kinetics of LiPSs. The notorious shuttle effect severely limits the practical application of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries (LSBs). In line with the concept of "green chemistry", industrial solid waste is reasonably applied to the design of battery's interlayer. The modified coal fly ash (MCFA) can effectively accelerate the redox kinetics of the electrode and optimize the nucleation and decomposition of Li 2 S. The synergistic adsorption and catalytic action from rich pore structure and polar metal oxides can effectively capture and fix free polysulfide (LiPSs), which realizes the inhibition of shuttle effect. The LSBs with MCFA interlayer exhibit good cycle stability (decay-rate: 0.05% per cycle) and rate capability (703 mAh g−1 at 3C). Even under extreme conditions of poor electrolytes (E/S = 7.8 μL /mg), Cell-MCFA/PE with a high S loading (7.5 mg cm−2) still performs well (732 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles). This work provides an economical and environment-friendly strategy for the design of interlayer, which is conducive to the commercialization process of LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large quantities of alkaline industrial wastes that are generated globally have the potential to be valorized in various applications instead of being landfilled. This study evaluated the potential reuse of green liquor dregs (GLD), wood ashes, coal ash, red mud, mussel, scallop, and oyster shells to control acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD). Low hydraulic conductivities (10−7 to 10−9 m/min) suggest that covers constructed from fine-grained GLD, red mud, coal ash and wood fly ash can limit the formation of AMD. Static and kinetic test leachates of pH 5.8 to 10.6 indicate that the tested materials can neutralize acidic drainage and immobilize metal(loid)s by precipitation. The alkalinity is proportional to the amount and reactivity of carbonate and hydroxide fractions with red mud followed by coal ash being the most alkaline over 100 weeks and wood ashes the least. The tested industrial wastes generate leachates with a low metal(loid) risk when screened against the Australian freshwater guidelines. However, oxyanions including Al, Cr, Cu, Se, and V were leached in deleterious concentrations ≤100 times more than the guidelines because of their mobility in alkaline conditions. The outcomes of this study highlighted that alkaline industrial wastes can be potentially used in the long-term remediation of AMD as part of an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective integrated mine waste management strategy. [Display omitted] • Limitation of AMD formation by materials with low permeability and high compaction. • Details long-term acid-neutralization and metal mitigation by alkaline wastes. • Relates alkalinity of waste to amount and reactivity of carbonates and hydroxides. • Evaluates low metal risk in alkaline leachates and high concentration of oxyanions. • Offers opportunities for value recovery of alkaline wastes and remediation of AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash is an industrial waste product generated by coal fired powerplants which has been shown to contain elevated concentrations of several toxic trace metals. When stored in landfills or other repositories, these trace metals can enter nearby surface waters via a number of routes including leaching or runoff. Our study examined 1) the presence and concentration of eleven trace elements in a range of lab-created coal ash leachate solutions at neutral pH using ICP-OES, 2) the physiological effects of these leachate solutions on a freshwater gastropod (Planorbella duryi), and 3) the ability of these trace metals to bioaccumulate in the tissues of exposed individuals. As, Cd, Cu, Mg, Mn, and Pb were detected in solutions at increasing concentrations concurrent with ash concentration. Exposure to leachates caused significant delays in embryonic development, reduced juvenile shell growth, decreases in egg and clutch production, and the display of avoidance behaviors. Tissues of exposed snails contained elevated concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Cr, with bioconcentration factors 177,550 times higher in cadmium and 85,468 times higher in arsenic in the highest treatment compared to control organisms. Our results highlight the potential harmful effects of coal ash leachates on a novel freshwater invertebrate species using several unique methodologies, providing key information regarding their potential impacts on surrounding aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Exposure to leachates caused delays in embryonic development and reduced juvenile shell growth. • Exposures caused decreases in adult fecundity (clutch and egg deposition). • Snails were able to detect and avoid leachates above a certain concentration. • Exposed snails contained As, Cd, Cu, and Cr up to 177,553 times higher than control organisms. • Planorbella duryi is a novel, sensitive model species suitable for a range of chronic ecotoxicity tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing requirement and consumption of coal has resulted in a large accumulation of coal gangue. The reuse and recycling of coal gangue have become a high priority for sustainable development. A sustainable and efficient ceramsite adsorbent was prepared for copper ions adsorption by using coal gangue, coal fly ash, and copper slag as the main materials. The appropriate performance of the ceramsite could be obtained at a mixture of coal gangue, coal fly ash, and copper slag at a weight ratio of 3:4:1. The optimal sintering temperature and time were 1050 °C and 20 min, respectively. The main crystalline phases of ceramsite were quartz, mullite, and anorthite. Many micropores are connecting the interior on the surface of ceramsite under scanning electron microscope. The maximum copper ions adsorption capacity reached up to 20.6 mg/g at 303 K when pH and time were 5 and 1440 min, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm could be described by the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich model, respectively. The adsorption mechanisms of Cu2+ with ceramsite were attributed to Cu(OH) 2 precipitation formed on the alkaline surface of ceramsite and complexation reactions occurred between the O-containing groups (including C–O, Fe–O, and Si–O) from ceramsite and Cu2+. The prepared ceramsite may be also applied to other heavy metal wastewater treatments. • A green and efficient ceramsite adsorbent was prepared by industrial waste. • The adsorption capacity of copper ions with ceramsite was improved. • The adsorption kinetics could be described by the Freundlich model. • The adsorption mechanism of copper ions was studied deeply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addition of natural polymer or biopolymer is considered as a novel, cost-effective and eco-friendly soil modification approach mainly pertaining to erosion stability. The present study focuses on the interaction of three types of biopolymer i.e., xanthan gum, guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose to stabilize two dispersive industrial waste materials i.e., fly ash and coal mine overburden soil. The results found that all the three biopolymers enhanced the index and geotechnical properties of fly ash and mine overburden due to their high viscosity, aggregation, adsorption and cross-linking bond formation. However, the rate of enhancement varies with the type and concentration of biopolymer. The biomodified soil were evaluated for erosion stability against wind and water by performing pinhole test, cylindrical dispersion, surface resistance and water retention test. It concluded that a very minimal fraction, 1% of biopolymer solution could mitigate the dispersiveness of the geomaterial. Additionally, the results of microscopic analysis by scanning electron microscope assist to correlate the morphological changes with the engineering properties of biomodified soil due to the interaction of soil with the long-chained biopolymers strings. Finally, leachate and cost analysis of the biopolymer modified material was assessed to evaluate the efficiency of the biomodification. • Bio polymeric interaction of two dispersive material with XG, GG and CMC. • Modifications in consistency, compaction, strength and toughness. • Erodibility study by dispersiveness, wind, water erosion and surface strength value. • The microstructure, leachate and cost analysis of biomodified geomaterial. • Biopolymer is effective due to viscosity, cross-linking and hydrogel formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 mineralization (aka mineral carbonation) is a promising method for the chemical sequestration of CO2 via reaction with oxides of alkaline or alkaline-earth metals to form carbonates. It has documented advantages over similar technological solutions to climate change. The huge amount of industrial solid waste, as a serious environmental issue confronted by China, can provide additional alkalinity sources for CO2 mineralization. In this study, we present an overview of the latest advances in the emerging technologies of CO2-mineralization via industrial solid waste in China, from the perspective of both theoretical and practical considerations. We summarize the types of industrial solid waste that are used (mainly coal fly ash, steel slag, phosphogypsum, and blast furnace slag) and the technological options available in the literature, with an emphasis on the discussion of the involved process-intensification methods and valuable chemicals produced. Furthermore, we illustrate the current status of pertinent policies, and research and development activities in China. Finally, we identify the current knowledge gaps, particularly in understanding the overall sustainability performance of these CO2-mineralization technologies, and indicate that the technical, economic, and environmental challenges of promoting and commercializing these technologies for the co-utilization of industrial solid waste and carbon resources call for, amongst other things, more joint efforts by chemists, chemical engineers, and environmental scientists, and more feedback from the energy and industrial sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in industrial waste and by-products are routinely used to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of, and lower the energy consumption associated with, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) manufacture. Many such SCMs, such as type F coal fly ash (FA), are naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs). 226Ra, 232Th and 40K radionuclide activity concentration, information needed to determine what is known as the gamma-ray activity concentration index (ACI), is normally collected from ground cement samples. The present study aims to validate a new method for calculating the ACI from measurements made on unground 5 cm cubic specimens. Mechanical, mineralogical and radiological characterisation of 28-day OPC + FA pastes (bearing up to 30 wt % FA) were characterised to determine their mechanical, mineralogical and radiological properties. The activity concentrations found for 226Ra, 212Pb, 232Th and 40K in hardened, intact 5 cm cubic specimens were also statistically equal to the theoretically calculated values and to the same materials when ground to a powder. These findings consequently validated the new method. The possibility of determining the activity concentrations needed to establish the ACI for cement-based materials on unground samples introduces a new field of radiological research on actual cement, mortar and concrete materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MSWI fly ash (FA) is classified as hazardous waste and electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) as the harmful industrial waste. FA, water-washed FA (WFA), EMR and coal fly ash (CFA) were co-recycled to form lightweight MFCE ceramisites. The effects of FA, WFA and mixed MSWI fly ash on ceramisites were discussed. The approach to mixing FA and WFA increased the recycling amount of MSWI fly ash. The optimal mixture of 34.5% EMR, 24.1% CFA, 20.7% FA and 20.7% WFA sintered at 1160 °C for 12 min with a procedural heating rate (10 °C/min) and belonged to Class 800 artificial lightweight aggregate (GB/T 17431.1-2010); the quantity of MSWI fly ash in ceramisite was as high as 41.4%. Volatilization rates of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn and Cr for ceramisite were higher 75.0, 24.2, 62.7, 133, 343 and 764% than FA respectively, attributed to the co-existence of chlorides and sulfates. The remained Zn, Cu, Pb, Mn and Cr were exchanged with Mg2+/Ca2+/Al3+ of diopside and wollastonite to form residual fractions. Our findings provided a feasibility method of co-recycling MSWI fly ash and electrolytic manganese residue to produce green lightweight aggregates. Image 1 • MSWI fly ash and electrolytic manganese residue were co-recycled to be ceramisites. • Mixing the raw and water-washed MSWI fly ash was firstly applied. • The recycling proportion of MSWI fly ash reached 41.4%. • Co-existence of chlorides and sulfates contributed to the volatilization of heavy metals. • The migration and transformation mechanism of heavy metals were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article covers the issues related to the characteristics, application, and some methods of rare earth elements (REEs) recovery from coal fly ashes. REEs are elements with growing demand and a very wide range of application, especially when it comes to modern technologies. The conducted analysis and price forecast proved the existing upward tendency, and this confirmed the need to search for new REE sources, among industrial waste (proecological effect). The development of the REE recovery technology would involve solving several problems related to REE speciation, optimization of factors controlling their extractivity and selection of the REE separation method from obtained extraction solutions with a very extreme pH and complicated composition. The paper presented advantages and disadvantages of usually used methods of REE separation from coal fly ashes, like physical and acid–base leaching. It was also presented alternative REE recovery techniques in the form of membrane and biological methods and based on ion liquids (ILs) or chelating agents. The directions of further modifications, which will allow the efficient REE recovery were presented. The aim of this article was to propose specific solutions based on the creation of appropriate multistage method of REE recovery. It will be a combination of magnetic and size separation, acid–base leaching (including roasting in justified cases), removal of matrix elements with ILs (Al, Si, and Fe), and finally REE membrane separation, allowing one to obtain the appropriate process efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash is a coal combustion by-product with low pozzolanic reactivity which limits its resource utilization and engineering properties in building materials. The present study investigates a wet-milling treatment to activate the coal fly ash and promote its sustainable utilization. It was found that wet-milling is a suitable, efficient and eco-friendly technology for solid waste refinement. The pozzolanic reactivity is greatly improved after wet-milling treatment, as high as 140% at 60 days with particle size of 2.51 μm. It was observed that ettringite formation has occurred during the wet-milling. Physical structure, chemical evolution and ion leaching behavior during the wet-milling were discussed. It was proved that activation mechanism of wet-milling is a combined effect of physical breakage and ion dissolution acceleration. Binding energy was found decreased and SiQn structural units were found less polymerized which are helpful for the depolymerization during the pozzolanic reaction. Furthermore, technical applicability of wet-milling for various industrial solid wastes was also investigated. Image 102651 • Wet-milling is a suitable, efficient and eco-friendly technology for solid waste refinement. • Pozzolanic reactivity of coal fly ash is greatly improved after wet-milling treatment. • The activation mechanism of wet-milling technique for solid wastes was addressed. • Technical advantages and applicability of wet-milling for various solid wastes were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: In this paper waste bottom ash from a thermal power station was treated with lime and sand. This improves certain material characteristics leading to a potential use in a subbase in road construction. Industrial waste causes environmental, economic, and social problems. In Morocco, the Jorf Lasfar Thermal Power Station produces two types of coal ash with enormous quantities: fly ash (FA) and Bottom ash (BA). FA is recovered in cement while BA is stored in landfills. To reduce the effects of BA disposal in landfills, several experimental studies have tested the possibility of their recovery in the road construction, especially as a subbase. In the first phase of this study, the BA underwent a physicochemical and geotechnical characterization. The results obtained show that the BA should be treated to improve its mechanical properties. The most commonly used materials are lime and cement. In the selected low-cost treatment, which is the subject of the second phase of the study, lime is used to improve the low pozzolanicity of BA while calcarenite sand is used to increase the compactness. Several mixtures containing BA, lime, and calcarenite sand were prepared. Each of these mixtures was compacted in modified Proctor molds and then subjected to a series of tests to study the following characteristics: compressive strength, dry and wet California Bearing Ratio (CBR), dry density and swelling. The composition of each mixture was based on an experimental design approach. The results show that the values of the compressive strength, the dry density, and the CBR index have increased after treatment, potentially leading to a valorization of the treated BA for use in a subbase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]