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In this paper, the main subject concerns comparing different techniques to prepare raw clay samples for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). Three kinds of sample preparation procedures are examined, such as loose powder, pressed pellet, and fired pressed pellet. The fired pressed pellet approach was observed as a part of universal sample preparation for physic, mechanical, and instrumental analysis, which has not been previously tested as a solution in chemical analysis by the EDXRF method. The observed sample preparation techniques were compared by calculating the parameters of validation (recoveries, limit of detection - LOD, limit of quantification - LOQ, precision, and expanded uncertainties of measurements) of 11 elements (Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Ti, P, Mn, and S) using 15 certified reference materials (CRMs). Calibration curves were created and evaluated using 30 reference materials (RM) for all three approaches. Results proved that the fired pressed pellet is the most practical and precise approach for sample preparation of raw clays., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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Finding a solution to the problem of the large buildup of coal ashes is a vital necessity. Although the use of coal ashes in fired clay bricks has been thoroughly investigated, there is insufficient information on their industrial utilization and researchers do not agree on whether or not this addition improves the quality of the final products. Therefore, a database has gathered 20 years of research containing key factors related to the quality of the bricks (i.e., chemical composition, firing temperature, soaking time, open porosity, water absorption and compressive strength). Then, random forest regression and artificial neural networks (ANN) modeling were used to separately predict the parameters concerning the quality of the final products. The overall conclusions were that the compressive strengths were the highest when using fly ashes and that class F ashes were highly suitable to be used in the brick industry as a replacement material for brick clay. In addition, the ANN models showed higher coefficients of determination and an overall better fit to the experimental data. By changing the chemical makeup of the initial materials and their proportions, the particle size of the ashes, the firing temperature and soaking time, as well as the size of a product, the created models can be used to estimate the quality of the brick containing coal ash. That is crucial because the inconsistent chemical composition of ash is generally the main obstacle to its utilization. The local sensitivity analysis revealed the highest influence of the content of the alkali oxides in the initial clay on the fired clay bricks due to their fluxing effect. In the case of ash-clay bricks, the decisive factors were the type of furnace used, the ashes' class, the Na 2 O content in raw clay, and the K 2 O introduced with the ash. The F class ashes containing about 2–3% of K 2 O and <5% of CaO gave the highest compressive strength in bricks fired at 1000–1100 °C. Additional analyzes were made for 50% pond ash and 50% clay bricks to test the best-suited model and fill in the knowledge gap. The results obtained in this study are important for supporting the decision in the selection of materials and process parameter values that will increase the quality of the ash-clay-fired bricks. [Display omitted] • 303 cases of brick clays and coal ashes mixtures from the literature are studied. • Random forest and Artificial Neural Network models are built to find the link between raw materials and final products. • The amount of Na 2 O in the raw clay and K 2 O in the ash are decisive factors influencing the quality of ash-clay bricks. • Additional research regarding the use of pond and bottom ashes in industrial products is needed. • The hand-molded products with 50% pond ash fired at 950 °Care proven non-resistant to frost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]