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Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) provide a promising alternative to traditional solar technologies, as they offer a unique mix of cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and the possibility of achieving high efficiency. This study aims to investigate the effect of SiO2 purity obtained from coal fly ash on the photoelectric performance of DSSCs. The study focuses on varying the purity of extracted SiO2 from coal fly ash as a counter-electrode material and examining its impact on the efficiency of DSSCs. The efficiency of DSSCs was assessed by evaluating the performance of several various SiO2 purity materials for counter-electrode materials. The performance testing of DSSCs revealed that the counter electrode material, consisting of artificial SiO2 with a purity of 99.9%, achieved the highest efficiency of 0.0113%. Subsequently, DSSCs were fabricated using counter-electrode materials derived from coal fly ash with a purity of 52.91%. These DSSCs demonstrated an efficiency of 0.0076%. DSSCs utilizing SiO2 with a purity of 91.20% exhibited an efficiency of 0.0062%. Dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing a counter electrode material composed of SiO2 with a purity level of 72.54% demonstrated an efficiency of 0.0061%. The results showed that the level of SiO2 purity obtained from coal fly ash has a substantial impact on the photoelectric performance of DSSCs, since higher purity of SiO2 is associated with improved efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion of coal at thermal power plants generates enormous amounts of coal fly ash (CFA). Proper disposal of CFA is an important issue today because environmental problems are considered a burning issue worldwide. On the other hand, groundnut shells (GNS), regarded as agricultural waste in general, litter landfills everywhere and create soil degradation. Since both CFA and GNS contain abundant silica, this work focuses on extracting amorphous silica from these materials through a total dissolution–precipitation process. The silica was extracted from it and used to prepare titanium oxide (TiO₂) hybrids. The GNSS were extracted from GNS, and the CFAS was extracted from the CFA. The methods used were based on sol–gel. These hybrids were further tested for the performance of their solar cells in dissolving dyes. The overall results of the obtained physical properties of CFAS and GNSS are similar to those of conventional silica. More importantly, TiO₂/GNSS and TiO₂/CFAS hybrids showed enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared to the pure TiO₂. Therefore, it is evidence of repurposing CFA and GNS, which have high potential for use as sustainable applications in renewable energy and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of coal fly ash vary significantly depending on factors such as coal type, combustion conditions, and flue gas emission reduction methods. This study investigates the influence of particle size fractionation on the chemical composition, mineralogical structure, and thermal behaviour of two types of fly ash: high calcium ash derived from lignite (S1) and silica-rich ash from bituminous coal (S2). Dry aerodynamic separation was used to obtain distinct size fractions, which were then subjected to a comprehensive characterisation including X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The results reveal notable differences between the S1 and S2 ashes and between their size fractions. The finer fractions (< 20 μm) of S1 showed an increased calcium and sulphur content, while the coarser fractions (> 100 μm) contained more silica and alumina. The S2 ash exhibited a higher overall silica content, with alkali metals concentrated in finer fractions. Thermal analysis demonstrated distinct behaviours for each type and fraction of ash. Fine fractions of S1 ash showed SO2 emission at elevated temperatures, while S2 ash exhibited greater CO2 gas emission. After thermal treatment, the recrystallisation of the glassy phase was observed for S1, while the S2 ashes were more prone to melting and agglomeration. The study highlights the potential for the customised utilisation of specific ash fractions in various applications, such as geopolymer synthesis, adsorbent materials, and refractory products. This comprehensive characterisation contributes to a better understanding of fly ash properties and their dependence on particle size, providing valuable insights to optimise fly ash utilisation in various industries. The findings suggest strategies for a more efficient use of fly ash resources, particularly relevant in the context of decreasing fly ash availability due to the phase-out of coal power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolites have been increasingly applied in various fields such as energy conversion, environmental remediation, chemical production, and so on, being used as membranes, catalysts, and supports due to their large specific areas and strong gas adsorption. And, developing low-cost strategies for the preparation of zeolites has attracted the extensive attention of researchers. Coal fly ash, waste glass, discard zeolites, and slags are typical industrial wastes and rich in Si and Al, indicating that these industrial wastes can be utilized as alternative raw materials of zeolite synthesis. Firstly, the chemical composition and properties of these industrial wastes are summarized. Then, the strategies involved in synthesizing different zeolites from various industrial wastes are discussed. In addition, the applications of these zeolites are comprehensively reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ash melting temperature decreased on the influence of Na2O. • An appropriate ratio of MBA and MFA can effectively reduce the Cr leaching level. • The stabilization of heavy metals was enhanced when vitreous content exceeded 97.7%. • The solidification effect on Mn and Zn was readily apparent. Medical waste incineration ash (MWIA) has significant concentrations of heavy metals, dioxins, and chlorine that, if handled incorrectly, might cause permanent damage to the environment and humans. The low content of calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), and aluminum (Al) is a brand-new challenge for the melting technique of MWIA. This work added coal fly ash (CFA) to explore the effect of melting on the detoxication treatment of MWIA. It was found that the produced vitrification product has a high vitreous content (98.61%) and a low potential ecological risk, with an initial ash solidification rate of 67.38%. By quantitatively assessing the morphological distribution features of heavy metals in ashes before melting and molten products, the stabilization and solidification rules of heavy metals during the melting process were investigated. This work ascertained the feasibility of co-vitrification of MWIA and CFA. In addition, the high-temperature melting and vitrification accelerated the detoxification of MWIA and the solidification of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing calcium-based adsorbents for CO2 adsorption through cyclic calcination/carbonization is one of the most cost-effective methods for carbon emission reduction. In order to improve the cycle stability of the adsorbents and the capture efficiency of CO2, this study used industrial solid waste coal fly ash for the hydration treatment of calcium-based adsorbent to explore the variations in the cyclic adsorption performance of the adsorbent under different doping ratios and hydration conditions. By means of various characterization techniques, the microscopic mechanism for improving the performance of the modified adsorbent was analyzed from the perspectives of chemical composition, physical structure, and surface functional groups of the adsorbents. The results demonstrated that the modification of coal fly ash could significantly enhance the carbonation performance and cycle stability of the adsorbent in multiple CO2 capture processes. The modified material doped with 5% coal fly ash had the highest total CO2 adsorption capacity, which increased by 13.7% compared to before modification. Additionally, the modified material doped with 10% coal fly ash exhibited the strongest cyclic adsorption capacity, which was 14.0% higher than that before modification, and the adsorption attenuation rate decreased by 32.2%. The characterization results showed that the reaction between calcium oxide and coal fly ash formed CaSiO3 and Ca12Al14O33 during the modification process, which was the primary reason for the improvement in the CO2 capture performance of the modified materials. This study provided a new perspective on the resource utilization of solid waste fly ash and efficient CO2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of different grain size fractions of coal fly ash on the properties of clay-cement mortars used in flood levee construction. Dry aerodynamic separation and mesh sieving were used to obtain ultrafine, fine, and medium fractions of high-calcium and silica fly ash. The experimental results reveal that the rheological properties of fresh mortars are significantly influenced by these fractions. High-calcium fly ash mortars exhibit high reactivity and rapid increase in viscosity, with finer fractions showing the highest reactivity. Silica ashes show increased reactivity in the later stages of suspension hardening. Their spherical shape contributes to reducing internal friction during flow in initial technological operations. Furthermore, the compressive strength of hardened mortars improves as the particle size decreases for both ashes, resulting in a dense and uniform microstructure. The separation and fractionation of fly ashes contribute to the obtaining of fractions that influence the parameters of clay-cement suspension application on different scales. The results show the potential benefits of ash separation, which can bring advantages in terms of economic viability, engineering performance, and ecological sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditioning process intensification is necessary for improving the fly ash flotation effect. Understanding the relationship between conditioning parameters and flotation results is crucial for optimizing the conditioning-flotation process. This study developed a machine learning framework for predicting the yield, loss on ignition, and removal rate of unburned carbon using data from conditioning-flotation experiments. Feature variables of conditioning speed, impeller type, stirred tank diameter, collector dosage, and frother dosage were employed to develop five machine learning models. After tuning the hyper-parameters with GridSearchCV technique, it was found that Random Forest Regression model, eXtreme Gradient Boosting Regression model, and Gradient Boosting Regression model demonstrated good agreements between the predicted data and test data for the yield, loss on ignition, and removal rate of unburned carbon. The maximum R2 values were 0.9184, 0.8339, and 0.9434, respectively, while the minimum MSE values were 3.30, 5.82, and 20.59, respectively. The interpretable analysis using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method indicated that conditioning speed was the most significant feature variable affecting the yield, loss on ignition, and removal rate of unburned carbon, while impeller type had a secondary impact. This investigation is expected to reveal the important role of conditioning process intensification in optimizing fly ash flotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolite molecular sieves are potential adsorbents for wastewater treatment, characterized by high efficiency, simple process, easy regeneration, and low treatment cost. In this study, zeolite A molecular sieves were prepared using coal fly ash (CFA), which is an effective method for the utilization of CFA. The results showed that the CFA-based zeolite molecular sieves synthesized under optimized conditions exhibited excellent adsorption and removal rates (> 40%) for ammonia–nitrogen in wastewater of different concentrations and properties. The analysis of adsorption kinetics revealed that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that the adsorption of ammonia–nitrogen on zeolite is primarily controlled by chemisorption rather than physisorption. The adsorption process can be divided into two stages, with a higher adsorption rate and a smaller diffusion boundary layer thickness in the first stage, and a lower adsorption rate and an increased diffusion boundary layer thickness in the second stage. This indicates that as the adsorption proceeds, the internal diffusion resistance within the particles gradually increases, leading to a decrease in the adsorption rate until reaching equilibrium, where both the diffusion and adsorption become stable. The adsorption isotherms of ammonia–nitrogen on zeolite A conformed to the assumptions of the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism primarily involves uniform monolayer adsorption on the surface without intermolecular interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compound p-Nitrophenol (p-NP) is widely recognized as a highly toxic nitro-aromatic substance that urgently requires emission control. Reducing p-NP to p-aminophenol (p-AP) not only decreases its toxicity and mineralization properties in nature but also provides a key raw material for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The study used coal fly ash (CFA) as a catalyst carrier for synthesizing the p-NP reduction catalyst. Using CFA as an alternative option not only reduces costs but also achieves the objective of treating waste with waste compared to utilizing commercial solid materials for synthesizing catalysts. By employing hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide pretreatment methods, the physicochemical properties of CFA are significantly improved, enhancing the dispersion of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles. The structural features of the prepared samples were characterized using various surface analysis techniques, and both intermittent and continuous modes were experimentally tested for the model catalytic reaction involving the sodium borohydride (NaBH4)-mediated reduction of p-NP. The results demonstrate that CFA has potential in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing output of coal fly ash (CFA) and garden waste, it is of great significance for environmental protection and resource utilization to establish if it can be recycled. The saline soil is widely distributed in the coastal areas of northern China, with high salt content and poor physical and chemical properties, which seriously affects the development of local agriculture and forestry and causes the waste of arable land. If CFA and garden waste compost (GWC) can be applied to saline soil improvement, it not only improves the local soil problem, but also helps environmental protection. Leaching salt is an important measure to reduce salt content in saline-alkali soil. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of CFA and GWC on salt leaching of coastal saline-alkali soil through a soil column simulation test. The use of CFA and GWC promoted leaching and reduced leaching time. The addition of CFA and GWC to the soil suppressed the increase of HCO3- and CO32- during leaching, but increased the salt ion content of the soil after leaching. The addition of CFA to the soil reduced the ion retention of GWC in the soil, but the application of CFA and GWC had no significant effect on the leaching sequence of salt ions. CFA and GWC added to the soil improved the physicochemical properties and the quality of saline soils, but GWC was less effective than CFA in improving soil physicochemical properties. Application of CFA reduced the leaching time of soil salt ions by about 25%, as well as reduced the pH, EC, SAR, and total salt ion content of the soil by 2.18%, 20.83%, 56.63%, and 38.95%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The counter electrode in DSSCs must be made of a material with various advantageous chemical and physical characteristics to guarantee the cell's efficient functioning and cost efficiency. Coal fly ash is recognized for its substantial silicon dioxide (SiO2) content and other minerals and metals. This paper provides a detailed analysis and description of extracting and characterizing SiO2 from coal fly ash. This extraction aims to utilize SiO2 as a material for the counter electrode in DSSCs. The extraction procedure of SiO2 from coal fly ash involves a multi-step process that entailed the utilization of acid leaching using hydrochloric acid 1 M at 90°C for 4 h, which was subsequently followed by precipitation using NaOH 3 M at 90°C for 4 h to separate SiO2. The SiO2 gel was cleaned of contaminants with hot distilled water and dried at 110°C for 12 h. The SiO2 that was obtained was analyzed utilizing a range of analytical techniques to evaluate its structural, morphological, chemical, and optical properties. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) examination revealed that the crystal structure of coal fly ash consisted of quartz, corundum, hematite, lime, and periclase. The SiO2 that was obtained exhibited a crystal structure that was both cubic and triclinic. The morphology is visualized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study using atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed that the coal fly ash contained 52.91% SiO2, whereas the extracted SiO2 had a purity of 91.20%. The UV-Vis spectrophotometry investigation revealed that the SiO2 exhibited absorbance spectra with a wide band gap of 4.17 eV, whereas the coal fly ash had absorbance spectra of 3.37 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash carbonation is an effective method to achieve carbon reduction and stabilize the heavy metals. Supercritical CO2 can facilitate the carbonation process due to its strong diffusivity, but the effect of parameters on the stabilisation characteristics under supercritical conditions is unclear. In this paper, the heavy metal leaching characteristics of carbonized fly ash under supercritical CO2 conditions were comprehensively investigated. The experimental results showed that, increasing the pressure, applying mechanical force, increasing the rotational speed, raising the temperature, increasing the liquid-to-solid ratio, and adding calcium oxide all reduced the heavy metals leaching concentration. Compared with the original ash, Pb decreased by 38.65%, Cd by 31.66%, Hg by 47.06%, and As by 4.91% under supercritical conditions. After the fly ash carbonation, the influence of environmental factors such as the acid–base value, temperature, moisture, reaction time, and additives on the release characteristics were investigated. It was found that carbonized fly ash had good stability. At 30 °C, that leaching rate of Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, Hg, and As after carbonation were 28.80%, 8.62%, 26.60%, 22.19%, 100.00% and 17.47%, respectively, lower than those of the original sample. The leaching rate of heavy metals increased with increasing temperature, and moisture aggravated the precipitation of heavy metals, which also increased with the reaction time. The addition of gypsum decreased the heavy metals leaching. The extraction experiments showed that after carbonation the heavy metals changed from active forms to stable residue states, except for Hg and As. Supercritical CO2 carbonation has a good effect on the stabilization of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) provide a promising alternative to traditional solar technologies, as they offer a unique mix of cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and the possibility of achieving high efficiency. This study aims to investigate the effect of SiO2 purity obtained from coal fly ash on the photoelectric performance of DSSCs. The study focuses on varying the purity of extracted SiO2 from coal fly ash as a counter-electrode material and examining its impact on the efficiency of DSSCs. The efficiency of DSSCs was assessed by evaluating the performance of several various SiO2 purity materials for counter-electrode materials. The performance testing of DSSCs revealed that the counter electrode material, consisting of artificial SiO2 with a purity of 99.9%, achieved the highest efficiency of 0.0113%. Subsequently, DSSCs were fabricated using counter-electrode materials derived from coal fly ash with a purity of 52.91%. These DSSCs demonstrated an efficiency of 0.0076%. DSSCs utilizing SiO2 with a purity of 91.20% exhibited an efficiency of 0.0062%. Dye-sensitized solar cells utilizing a counter electrode material composed of SiO2 with a purity level of 72.54% demonstrated an efficiency of 0.0061%. The results showed that the level of SiO2 purity obtained from coal fly ash has a substantial impact on the photoelectric performance of DSSCs, since higher purity of SiO2 is associated with improved efficiency.

Abstract Zeolite molecular sieves are potential adsorbents for wastewater treatment, characterized by high efficiency, simple process, easy regeneration, and low treatment cost. In this study, zeolite A molecular sieves were prepared using coal fly ash (CFA), which is an effective method for the utilization of CFA. The results showed that the CFA-based zeolite molecular sieves synthesized under optimized conditions exhibited excellent adsorption and removal rates (> 40%) for ammonia–nitrogen in wastewater of different concentrations and properties. The analysis of adsorption kinetics revealed that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that the adsorption of ammonia–nitrogen on zeolite is primarily controlled by chemisorption rather than physisorption. The adsorption process can be divided into two stages, with a higher adsorption rate and a smaller diffusion boundary layer thickness in the first stage, and a lower adsorption rate and an increased diffusion boundary layer thickness in the second stage. This indicates that as the adsorption proceeds, the internal diffusion resistance within the particles gradually increases, leading to a decrease in the adsorption rate until reaching equilibrium, where both the diffusion and adsorption become stable. The adsorption isotherms of ammonia–nitrogen on zeolite A conformed to the assumptions of the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism primarily involves uniform monolayer adsorption on the surface without intermolecular interactions.

Abstract This study examines the influence of different grain size fractions of coal fly ash on the properties of clay-cement mortars used in flood levee construction. Dry aerodynamic separation and mesh sieving were used to obtain ultrafine, fine, and medium fractions of high-calcium and silica fly ash. The experimental results reveal that the rheological properties of fresh mortars are significantly influenced by these fractions. High-calcium fly ash mortars exhibit high reactivity and rapid increase in viscosity, with finer fractions showing the highest reactivity. Silica ashes show increased reactivity in the later stages of suspension hardening. Their spherical shape contributes to reducing internal friction during flow in initial technological operations. Furthermore, the compressive strength of hardened mortars improves as the particle size decreases for both ashes, resulting in a dense and uniform microstructure. The separation and fractionation of fly ashes contribute to the obtaining of fractions that influence the parameters of clay-cement suspension application on different scales. The results show the potential benefits of ash separation, which can bring advantages in terms of economic viability, engineering performance, and ecological sustainability.

The effects of class-F coal fly ash (CFA) as cement replacement in the paste and mortar formulation at different CFA-to-binder ratios (CBR) with varying water-to-binder ratios (WBR) were investigated and further evaluated using multivariate nonlinear regression to elucidate their influence on consistency, setting time, and water requirement. It was found that the required WBR for achieving normal consistency of formulated paste and mortar can be predicted using the obtained regression models. Water requirements for mortar formulation could also be predicted, given that the water requirement for paste formulation is known. The influence of partially replacing cement in mortar formulations on hardened mortar properties while ensuring formulations were at normal consistency was also investigated with replacements of up to 20 wt.% resulted in a mortar with improved strength, especially after curing for 28 and 56 days, as the CFA exhibits its inherent pozzolanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA) presents environmental challenges due to its abundance from coal combustion and difficult disposal issues, necessitating effective utilization strategies. This study explored the potential of combined microwave heating and silicon fusion as a pretreatment method for CFA, followed by zeolite molecular sieve synthesis. The aim is to enhance CFA activation, facilitate mullite transformation, and then extract valuable elements like silicon and aluminum. The synthesized zeolite molecular sieves exhibited a diamond-like structure with rich pore formations. XRD and XRF analysis identified that the predominant crystalline phases of the molecular sieves were Na6Al6Si10O32 (approximately 95.3%) with minor Na3.6Al3.6Si12.4O32, indicating NaP-type zeolites with a silicon-to-aluminum ratio of 1.78. In contrast, CFA's ratio was 1.24, suggesting that waste silicon powders served both as an activator and a supplementary silicon source. This innovative approach offered sustainable utilization of CFA, addressed environmental challenges, and promoted waste utilization. It exhibited tremendous potential in the environmental field with the advantages of low cost and environmental friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using fly ash to synthesize zeolite molecular sieves can improve the reuse value of coal fly ash resources, reduce the synthesis cost of the zeolites, and protect the ecology. A novel approach was proposed to prepare zeolite socony mobil‐5 (ZSM‐5) zeolite via one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis. The mesoporous ZSM‐5 synthesized by adjusting the molar ratio of chemical reagents has higher crystallinity, larger specific surface area, and more adsorption sites. An analysis of methylene blue (MB) adsorption on mesoporous ZSM‐5 was conducted at many different adsorption parameters, including solution concentration, temperature, and duration of adsorption. The Langmuir model can objectively describe the adsorption behavior of MB on ZSM‐5, and the adsorption characteristics of MB on ZSM‐5 are better described by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The thermodynamic model provides the adsorption behavior as an endothermic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium, a critical material for the global development of green energy sources, is anomalously enriched in some coal deposits and coal by-products to levels that may be considered economically viable. Recovering lithium from coal, particularly from coal gangue or coal ashes, offers a promising alternative for extracting this element. This process could potentially lead to economic gains and positive environmental impacts by more efficiently utilizing coal-based waste materials. This review focuses on lithium concentrations in coal and coal by-products, modes of lithium occurrence, methods used to identify lithium-enriched phases, and currently available hydrometallurgical recovery methods, correlated with pretreatment procedures that enable lithium release from inert aluminosilicate minerals. Leaching of raw coal appears inefficient, whereas coal gangue and fly ash are more feasible due to their simpler composition and higher lithium contents. Lithium extraction can achieve recovery rates of over 90%, but low lithium concentrations and high impurity levels in the leachates require advanced selective separation techniques. Bottom ash has not yet been evaluated for lithium recovery, despite its higher lithium content compared to feed coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Coal is used in most of the power and chemical plants to meet energy needs which produce various waste ashes. Reuse of these ashes as electroactive materials has great importance for sustainable development. In this study, it was detected that the main components of coal fly (CFA) and bottom ashes (CBA) were oxides of silica (SiO2), iron (Fe2O3), aluminium (Al2O3), and magnesium (MgO), besides carbon. These are well-known electrorheological (ER) active materials. The aim of this study is to reveal dielectric and electroactive vibration damping capabilities of CFA and CBA. According to the dielectric and ER flow tests carried out in insulating silicone oil (SO), the optimum concentration of particles was determined to be 35 wt.% for both ashes. Higher ER yield stress (τy = 135 Pa), higher ER efficiency (32.8), and better viscoelastic properties (τc = 128 Pa, G' = 680 kPa) under 3.0 kV mm-1 applied electric field were obtained for 35CFA/SO suspension system compared to 35CBA/SO (τy = 125 Pa, EReff = 24.0, τc = 55 Pa, G' = 260 kPa). Although it was concluded that both ashes can be upcycled to sustainable and smart vibration damping alternative materials, better performance was observed for CFA particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel method for SiC production from a residue of coal fly ash (CFA) after high-pressure leaching with a mixture of NH 4 HSO 4 + H 2 SO 4 is proposed. A thermodynamic analysis showed that SiC can be obtained at >1500 °C, and titanium carbide (TiC) and ferrosilicon (FeSi) can form as byproducts. Carbothermal reduction of the CFA residue with carbon in the range 1300–1500 °C with holding time 1–3 h was investigated. X-ray phase analysis (XRD) indicated that SiC forms at >1425 °C. Iron compounds in the form of Fe 3 Si and Fe 5 Si 3 were detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy in a sample sintered at 1500 °C. The possibility of SiC production by a two-step procedure was demonstrated. First, a SiC powder was obtained from the CFA residue and carbon at 1500 °C, then SiC was mixed with yttrium aluminum garnet Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and processed by spark plasma sintering at 1750–2000 °C, holding time 5 min, and pressure 50 MPa. Ceramic samples obtained at 1850 and 1900 °C with compressive strength of 350 ± 17.5 & 416 ± 20.8 MPa and Vickers hardness of 17.89 ± 0.89 & 15.97 ± 0.79 GPa, respectively, proved to be comparable to the best reported SiC + yttrium aluminum garnet ceramics. Thus, this study presents an original method for ceramics production from solid waste of coal-fired power plants; this approach will allow to create a comprehensive technology for utilizing 100 % of CFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal fly ash (CFA), a by-product of coal combustion, is a valuable raw material for various applications. However, the heterogeneous nature of the composition and properties of CFA provides challenges to its effective usage and utilisation. This study investigates the thermal behaviour of the fly ashes of lignite (FA1) and brown coal (FA2) and their fractions obtained by dry aerodynamic separation. Thermal analysis techniques, including thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and evolved gas analysis (EGA), were used to characterise the behaviour of the fly ash fractions while heating up to 1250 °C. The results reveal distinct differences in the thermal behaviour between ash types and among their different size fractions. For the FA1 ashes, the concentration of calcium-rich compounds and the level of recrystallisation at 950 °C increased with the decrease in particle size. The most abundant detected newly formed minerals were anhydrite, gehlenite, and anorthite, while coarser fractions were rich in quartz and mullite. For the FA2 ashes, the temperature of the onset of melting and agglomeration decreased with decreasing particle size and was already observed at 995 °C. Coarser fractions mostly remain unchanged, with a slight increase in quartz, mullite, and hematite content. Recrystallisation takes place in less extension compared to the FA1 ashes. The findings demonstrate that the aerodynamic separation of fly ashes into different size fractions can produce materials with varied thermal properties and reactivity, which can be used for specific applications. This study highlights the importance of thermal analysis in characterising fly ash properties and understanding their potential for utilisation in various applications involving thermal treatment or exposure to high-temperature conditions. Further research on advanced separation techniques and the in-depth characterisation of fly ash fractions is necessary to obtain materials with desired thermal properties and identify their most beneficial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melting is an efficient method to turn municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash (FA) into non-hazardous material. Coal fly ash (CFA) was selected as the silica-alumina source to carry out co-melting research with MSWI FA in this work. The effects of the temperature and the CFA content on mineral transformation and the migration characteristics of heavy metals were analyzed. The results showed that the mixtures of MSWI FA and CFA reacted at high temperatures to mainly generate Ca2Al2SiO7, Ca2SiO4, and CaAl2Si2O8 primarily and then melted and formed the amorphous-phase vitreous body when the CFA content was more than 40% and the temperature was higher than 1300 °C. During the melting process, Cd and Pb were almost volatilized, while Cr, Mn, and Ni were almost retained. Besides, the volatilization rates of Cu and Zn fluctuated with the temperature and the CFA content. Suitable treatment temperature and CFA content were conducive to the transformation of the heavy metals in the FA into stable forms, and the melting products were no longer hazardous wastes because the vitreous body could effectively encapsulate heavy metals. This study aims to help reuse the FA and CFA collaboratively and be more environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian coal fly ash generally comprises 50–60% $Si{O_2}$ Si O 2 , and 25–35% $A{l_2}{O_3}$ A l 2 O 3 can potentially replace bauxite as an aluminum resource. Aluminum recovery from coal fly ash is highly dependent on removing amorphous silica, activating the inactive mullite phase, and increasing the $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratio. This work thoroughly investigated and compared the alkali-desilication operation by two widely used alkalis, $KOH$ KOH and $NaOH$ NaOH , based on four operational parameters: liquid-to-solid ratio, $KOH$ KOH or $NaOH$ NaOH concentration, leaching time and temperature. Using SEM, EDX, and XRD, the morphology and phase of fly ash and solid byproducts were analyzed. $NaOH$ NaOH was more effective than $KOH$ KOH in $Si{O_2}$ Si O 2 dissolution at all operational parameters. A 20 wt% concentration, 5:1 liquid-to-solid ratio, 2hrs leaching time, and 100°C temperature were the optimum removal conditions for silica from fly ash using $NaOH$ NaOH. With $KOH$ KOH , the ideal desilication conditions were obtained at 28 wt% concentration, 3hrs leaching time, and 150°C temperature. The highest $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratios were obtained under the same optimal desilication conditions. Using $KOH$ KOH and $NaOH$ NaOH , the $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratio was enhanced from 0.58 to 1.26 and 1.45, respectively. The main zeolitic products obtained were Hydroxysodalite in $NaOH$ NaOH -treated fly ash and Linde F zeolite and Kalsilite in $KOH$ KOH -treated fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The feasibility of preparing non-sintered lightweight aggregate using textile sludge and coal fly ash as the main raw materials was investigated. Extensive experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of different coal fly ash/sludge ratio, sodium silicate addition and curing time on the performance of non-sintered lightweight aggregates (NSLWAs). The optimal preparation parameters were determined as follows: coal fly ash/cement ratio of 2.2, textile sludge addition of 20%, sodium silicate addition of 10%, and curing time of 28 days. Under these optimal preparation conditions, the cylindrical compressive strength of NSLWAs was relatively high. The test results of Zn leaching toxicity test and S content all met the relevant standards and environmental safety requirements. NSLWA has a dense internal structure with uniformly distributed grains. By analyzing the hydration reaction mechanism during the NSLWAs preparation, it can be obtained that part of Zn2+ was stabilized by conversion into insoluble Ca(Zn(OH)3)2.2H2O, while the remaining part was solidified and stabilized through encapsulation and adsorption of hydration products. Furthermore, it was discovered that pozzolanic admixtures played a crucial role in the hydration and hardening process of NSLWAs, and the presence of C-S-H gel and Mullite contributed to the increase in cylinder compressive strength of NSLWAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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 Background Hundreds of millions of tons coal fly ash are produced annually to support economic development and industrial production. However, directly applying coal fly ash to agricultural production can decrease the land productivity and pose a threat to the ecosystem due to the poor physicochemical properties and seriously heavy metal pollution. Methods In this study, a field experiment to investigate the effects of coal fly ash as a soil amendment was conducted in Hebei province, China. The coal fly ash (CFA) soil field was mixed with the carrier soil (CS, without containing coal fly ash) at different rates (0–40% mass content) in the 0–20 cm layer of top soil and then mixed with a rotovator. The soil was then amended with 0.45–1.80 kg·m− 2 of G1 soil amendment for planting corn. Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the response mechanism of soil microbial community activities, and soil physicochemical properties to soil amendment and carrier soil in coal fly ash soil. Key results The study found that the G1 amendment, which consisted of humic acid, polyacrylamide, zeolite powder, and FeSO4·7H2O, improved the soil chemical properties and physical structure by increasing soil bulk density and macroaggregates. The highest corn yield was observed in B5 (20% CS and 1.3500 kg·m− 2 G1). Meanwhile, the abundance of microorganisms that facilitate the circulation of soil nutrients such as Acidobacteria (77.05%), Sphingomonas (25.60%), Nitrospira (20.78%), Streptomyces (11.32%), and Gaiella (10.20%) was increased. Conclusions Overall, our results indicate that the use of coal fly ash soil as a amendment can enhance soil sustainability by improving soil microbial functions. These findings provide a reference for the development and application of coal fly ash soil amendments.

Abstract The electricity demand is increasing rapidly with the development of society and technology. Coal-fired thermal power plants have become one of the primary sources of electricity generation for urbanization. However, coal-fired thermal power plants produce a great amount of by-product coal fly ash every year. Coal fly ash disposal in landfills requires a sizable space and has negative environmental impacts. Therefore, it is crucial to develop new technologies and methods to utilize this enormous volume of solid waste in order to protect the environment. In this review, the fundamental physical and chemical characteristics of coal fly ash are introduced, and afterward the disposal policies and utilization ways of coal fly ash are discussed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various ways this waste. The leaching of valuable metals in coal fly ash and the extraction of metal elements in leachate under different conditions are also summarized. Furthermore, the possibility of coal fly ash to serve as a supplementary source for mineral resources is analyzed, providing a basis for its extensive use as a raw material in the metal industry in China and worldwide.

Coal fly ash (FA), an aluminum silicate by-product and environmental pollutant which is generated during the combustion of coal in coal-fired power stations, was used as an electrode modifier for the determination of Cd(II) in aqueous solutions. In this work, graphite/polyurethane-based composites containing different amounts of FA were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) thermogravimetry (TGA), and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The graphite/polyurethane composite electrodes (GPUE), with and without FA modifier, were evaluated with regard to their performance as voltammetric electrodes in the determination of metallic cations, using Cd(II) as a probe. After optimizing solution and instrumental parameters affecting the peak current, a differential pulse anode stripping voltammetry (DPASV) procedure was developed for GPUE modified with 5% FA (m/m), resulting in a linear response for Cd(II) from 2.0 x 10−7 to 1.0 x 10−6 mol L−1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 6.6 x 10−8 mol L−1. Cd(II) was added to natural water samples and determined at the 10−7 mol L−1 level with a mean recovery of 99%. It was also extracted from exhausted rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries and diluted to ca. 0.2 µmol L−1 and determined with the same electrode, with recoveries of 98.7% when compared to FAAS. These results serve as a proof of concept that FA is a useful electrode modifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Diopside-Like based ceramics as the main crystalline phase (expressed as 'Diopside') were prepared via one-step sintering using extracted titanium slag (ETS) and coal fly ash (CFA) as raw materials. The effects of CFA content and sintering temperature on the crystal phase composition, microstructure, properties and crystallization kinetics were studied by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. According to the findings, the addition of CFA supplemented the deficiency of Si and Al in ETS and balanced the Ca/Al/Si molar ratio in the system. Moreover, at the CFA doping of 20 %, melilite was gradually transformed into 'diopside' at 800–1100 °C that further remained stable at 1160–1200 °C. 'Despite' the fact that the crystallization activation energy increased and the Avrami index was at its lowest level (1.75), the crystallization temperature was reduced, whereas the crystallization rate increased, causing the ceramic body and surface to crystallize and thereby improving the properties of ceramics. Sintering at 1180 °C for 1 h resulted in ceramics with 'diopside' as the primary crystal phase composition. The water absorption, linear shrinkage, bulk density, bending strength, and acid resistance were respectively 1.3 %, 13 %, 2.89 g cm−3, 141.8 MPa, and 97.36 %. Finally, 'diopside' possessed the higher acid resistance than melilite and anorthite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hundreds of millions of tons coal fly ash are produced annually to support economic development and industrial production. However, directly applying coal fly ash to agricultural production can decrease the land productivity and pose a threat to the ecosystem due to the poor physicochemical properties and seriously heavy metal pollution. Methods: In this study, a field experiment to investigate the effects of coal fly ash as a soil amendment was conducted in Hebei province, China. The coal fly ash (CFA) soil field was mixed with the carrier soil (CS, without containing coal fly ash) at different rates (0–40% mass content) in the 0–20 cm layer of top soil and then mixed with a rotovator. The soil was then amended with 0.45–1.80 kg·m− 2 of G1 soil amendment for planting corn. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the response mechanism of soil microbial community activities, and soil physicochemical properties to soil amendment and carrier soil in coal fly ash soil. Key results: The study found that the G1 amendment, which consisted of humic acid, polyacrylamide, zeolite powder, and FeSO4·7H2O, improved the soil chemical properties and physical structure by increasing soil bulk density and macroaggregates. The highest corn yield was observed in B5 (20% CS and 1.3500 kg·m− 2 G1). Meanwhile, the abundance of microorganisms that facilitate the circulation of soil nutrients such as Acidobacteria (77.05%), Sphingomonas (25.60%), Nitrospira (20.78%), Streptomyces (11.32%), and Gaiella (10.20%) was increased. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate that the use of coal fly ash soil as a amendment can enhance soil sustainability by improving soil microbial functions. These findings provide a reference for the development and application of coal fly ash soil amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NaP zeolite with excellent crystallinity and adsorption performance was obtained by adopting the Na2SiO3 and NaAlO2 from coal fly ash as the raw materials. As the synthesis condition of aging for 0.5 h at 30ηC and crystalizing for 8 h at 120ηC with n(H2O)/n(SiO2) = 116, n(Na2O)/n(SiO2) = 1.4, and n(SiO2)/n(Al2O3) = 2.8, NaP zeolite owned higher crystallinity (98.98%) and spherical morphology (~2.78 μm). During the crystallization, the nucleation/ growth kinetics was calculated to survey the crystallization mechanism via the theoretical calculation and characterization methods. The diffusion of reactants in the solid--liquid-phase interface was dominant, wherein the heterogeneous nucleation and solid-phase transformation were also proposed based on the fitting results of Avarami--Erofeev and simple kinetic equations. The activation energy results of nucleation (En, 27.67 kJ/mol) and growth (Eg, 13.31 kJ/mol) demonstrated that the induced nucleation period was the critical step during the crystallization. Hence, the method of rapid nucleation was introduced and the induced nucleation time was shortened 50% (from ~2.0 to ~1.0 h) as the crystal seed was added. Moreover, the grain size of NaP-Seed zeolite reduced to ~2.02 μm. Meanwhile, the synthesized NaP zeolite adsorbent was employed for the removal of phenol compound fromthe aqueous solution.Under the synergistic effect of electrostatic interaction and pore filling effect, NaP zeolite exhibited better adsorption with the removal rate of 82.63% (pH = 5.0 and 40 min) and stability in the five consecutive cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehend the newest research progress, hotspots, and development trends concerning coal fly ash’s role in environmental remediation, this paper objectively reflects scientific contributions and influences from related countries（regions）,institutions, and individuals. An econometric analysis of the relevant literature included in the Web of ScienceTM core collection database of ISI Web of Knowledge from 1990～2022 was conducted. Specifically, the TOP10 countries（regions） were considered in terms of publication numbers, high-yield authors, source journals, important research institutions, as well as research hotspots to evaluate the current state of coal fly ash application and research in the field of environmental remediation since 1990. This paper serves as a guide to understand the research direction, development trend, and research hotspots of coal fly ash in the field of environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incombustible portion of coal that remains after burning is known as bottom or fly ash, and it has a detrimental influence on the environment. One of the possible alternatives for reducing the amount of ash deposited in landfills might be the production of useful glass–ceramic from vitrified fly ash. Glass–ceramic was synthesized using fly ash from the thermal power plant "Nikola Tesla" and fluxing additives. Sinter crystallization of the parent glass resulted in glass ceramics. The glass was created by melting a combination of coal fly ash (CFA), Na2CO3, and CaCO3 at T = 1500 °C and quenching the melt in the air. Glass powders were sintered at temperatures 850 and 900 °C. The resulting glass–ceramics were characterized microstructurally, physically, and mechanically. The cavitation erosion of samples was evaluated. The cavitation rate was 0.015 mg/min for the sample sintered at 850 °C and 0.0053 mg/min for the sample sintered at 900 °C. The leaching of heavy metals in glass–ceramic samples was determined using Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. A low concentration of heavy metals in the leaching solution showed that heavy metals were successfully incorporated in the glass matrix and that obtained glass–ceramics are ecologically safe for usage. Both samples exhibit good resistance to cavitation erosion, suggesting their potential as possible replacements for structural ceramics commonly employed components of hydraulic machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]