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By Michal Rehor, Vladimir Cablik, Peter Fecko, Tomas Lang

"1. Introduction The North-Bohemian Basin area is known for its largest Czech brown coal deposit. About 50% brown coal reserves have been exploited in the North-Bohemian Basin by the mining company of Severoceske doly, a.s. (North Bohemian Mines, j.s.c.) today. The opencast mining of brown coal naturally led to vast landscape damages. Therefore reclamation work has acquired great significance. The specific feature of Severoceske doly, a.s. mining is the fact that the mining has been realized in two geologically absolutely different localities. This fact demands even rather different methods of reclamations. The main problem at Doly Bilina localities is the occurrence of overburden rocks from the series of rocks of coal seams. These rocks are texturally light but large amounts of coal (cca 5 %) and sulphur (cca below 3 %) which makes the soil reaction extremely acid. If they appear on the surface of the dump, they create a phytotoxic area, reclamation of which requires special methods. Rocks from Doly Nastup Tusimice localities are more suitable to reclamation use, but texturally extremely heavy rocks with large fraction of physical clays appear there that can generate a sterile soil area. Their reclamation requirements are completely different from those on Doly Bilina phytotoxic areas. That is the reason of the application of some non – traditional restoration methods. This report briefly summarises the experience in application of fertilizable soils, power plant stabilizer, power plant ash and aerial sowing of charlock. The results are documented by the monitoring of the physical, mineralogical and pedological parameters of rocks in testing areas.2. Properties of Overburden Rocks in Opencast Mines Bilina and Libous The reclamation work methodology in the North Bohemian Basin is above all determined by the properties of overburden rocks which occur in the top horizon of the reclaimed sites. The research of the rocks reclamation properties dealt with four current mining localities in the central part of the basin. It concerned the Bilina and Libous mines. This chapter states the stratigraphic status properties of these sites with respect to reclamation availability. The total status of the area of interest is shown in the figure No. 1."

Jan 1, 2008

By Liang Yu, Yuhua Li, Yuanchi Dong

"High alumina slag, with alumina normally more than 15 pct, is encountered with blast furnaces in China because of high alumina/silica ratio in iron ore as well as sinter and high ash content in coke for cost reason. High alumina slag with high viscosity and high liquidus temperature would lead to higher slag volume and thereby, furnace productivity. In the present work, liquidus temperature of high alumina slag, based on Meishan factory, Baosteel China, were investigated. A liquidus temperature model was introduced in the present work based on basic physical chemistry theory and focused on the chemical composition area used in Meishan factory(pct): Al2O3 from 14 to 17.5 and MgO from 8 to 12, so that the blast furnace slag could be designed for optimum blast furnace performance.IntroductionBlast furnace slag composition[1] has very important bearing on its physicochemical characteristics which affects smoothness of operation, slag handling, coke consumption, the degree of desulphurization, hot metal productivity and its quality etc. The slag properties which affect most are liquidus temperature, viscosity, sulphide capacity and alkali capacity. Variation of these slag characteristics with composition and temperature has been a field of active researches as these its great influence on the blast furnace operation. In the early years, most of these studies were carried out over low alumina blast furnace slags with alumina normally less than 15 pct. High alumina slag was first introduced in India because of its high alumina/silica ratio iron ore as well as sinter and high ash content in coke[2]. And then this problem becomes common as higher alumina/silica ratio iron ore imported and used [2-5]. The most important problem caused by high alumina content is liquidus temperature and then viscosity of the slag.Generally speaking those reported works [2-5] investigated a pretty wide range of chemical compositions and then obtained complex model, respectively. In fact, every factory has its own interest because of different resources. For example, the Al2O3 content from 20% to 30% pct was studied in Tata Steel India [2], but it is too high for Baosteel Meishan. A very lower percentage of alumina content, 14-18 % pct, was mainly used."

Jan 1, 2008

By Alain Jardy, Valerio De Felice, Jean-Pierre Bellot, Ismael Lis Alves Daoud, Stephane Hans

"Gas-stirring ladle treatment of liquid metal has been pointed out for a long time as the processing stage mainly responsible for the inclusion population of specialty steels. A steel ladle is a complex three-phase reactor, where strongly dispersed inclusions are transported by the turbulent liquid metal / bubbles flow. We have coupled a population balance model with CFD in order to simulate the mechanisms of transport, aggregation, flotation and surface entrapment of inclusions. The simulation results, when applied to an industrial gas-stirring ladle operation, show the efficiency of this modelling approach and allow us to compare the respective roles of these mechanisms on the inclusion removal rate.IntroductionThe reduction of the weight of high performance materials together with the improvement of mechanical properties and the increase of the recycling of used metal are new challenges which emphasize the importance of metal cleanliness. Ladle treatment of specialty steels has long been described as the secondary metallurgical process mainly responsible for the non-metallic inclusion derived from the deoxidation process. The treatment is accomplished by blowing argon through one or more porous plugs for the purposes of desulphurization, minor composition adjustments, and inclusion removal. Gas injection is applied on routine basis to achieve both the stirring of the liquid bath (thermal and chemical homogenization) and the entrapment of the inclusions by the bubbles (flotation). Furthermore, the turbulence produced in bubble swarms enhances the probability of inclusion collisions and makes aggregation the first mechanism for particle removal. The physical processes involved in gas stirred ladles are numerous and complex owing to the three dimensional and multiphase (metal-gas and inclusions) nature of the reactor. Despite these difficulties, the population balance equations can be implemented in CFD code11'21 and combined CFD-PBM (computational fluid dynamics - population balance method) models are investigated for steel ladle processes13'41 and produce very promising results in terms of inclusion removal efficiency."

Jan 1, 2012

By N. V. Sujathkumar, I. Vasudhevan, R. Santhakumar

"Freshwater ornamental fish culture is gaining importance in India and cheaper and nutrient rich live foods such as infusorians, daphnids, copepods and tubifecids are needed urgently. In this regard, adequate research has been conducted to produce such live feeds through recycling of agriculture and animal wastes. By this venture, besides generation of additional income, environment is also kept clean. In order to popularise the technologies relating to production of live foods from wastes and generate employment opportunities, training programmes were conducted for 100 Self Help Group women belonging to Thoothukudi district. The topics of the training included, breeding of ornamental fishes by utilizing the building material wastes, production of live foods through recycling of agricultural and animal wastes. A study on feed back was conducted with 100 respondents represented from different villages. The variables such as socio economic status, economic motivation, usefulness of training and constraints were included in this study. The impact assessment of this training of rural women indicated that 79 percent respondents were in favour of using the training for self employment by utilizing different kinds of wastes. Similar training programmes have also been planned in other parts of Tamilnadu. Introduction Ornamental fish culture is one of the most appropriate sectors to provide opportunities of employment to uplift the status of rural women. To ensure women utilize their full potential in useful and profital activities like freshwater ornamental fish culture, it is necessary to provide training and support for rural women which will ultimately lead to empowerment. Self Help Group Women are being trained routinely in India on the production of live foods for ornamental fish culture through recycling of agricultural and animal wastes. In this regard, training programmes were organized for the Self Help Group Women on freshwater ornamental fish culture. Which is gaining much importance in India. Cheaper and nutrient rich live foods such as infusorians, daphnids, copepods and tubifecids are needed urgently. The techniques of live feed production through recycling of agricultural and animal wastes would not only generate additional income by would also keep the environment clean."

Jan 1, 2008

By J. P. Downey, L. G. Twidwell

"The high density sludge process (HDS) is a commercially proven acid rock drainage wastewater treatment process that is based on acid neutralization and metal precipitation. Previous studies have established that metal removal efficiencies in precipitation-based wastewater treatment applications can be improved through metal ion adsorption on ferrihydrite and/or aluminummodified ferrihydrite. This study was conducted specifically to determine whether the metals removal efficiencies at an existing industrial facility could be improved by promoting ferrihydrite and/or aluminum-modified ferrihydrite precipitation during the pH adjustment stages of the HDS process. The metal tenors of the treated wastewater samples are compared with those obtained through baseline experiments, which were designed to simulate the conventional HDS operation. The subject metals were: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc.IntroductionThe HDS process is commercially proven ARD wastewater treatment technology that involves raising the wastewater pH by adding hydrated lime, caustic soda, or another alkaline substance. In addition to neutralizing the acidity, many dissolved metals precipitate as pH is elevated. Waste volume is minimized by capturing and immobilizing the precipitated solids.However, ARD streams characteristically contain multiple dissolved metal species. The response of various metals to pH adjustment in the HDS process is neither uniform nor quantitative, so minor to trace concentrations typically remain in the treated wastewater following solid-liquid separation. The effectiveness and applicability of the process would be improved if a means were found to further reduce the metal concentrations.Previous research and industrial applications have proven that metal ion adsorption on ferrihydrite (FH) and/or aluminum-modified ferrihydrite (AMF) increase metal removal efficiencies. Ferrihydrite and AMF are considered ideal for cation and anion adsorption from an aqueous solution at the appropriate pH [1]. Ferrihydrate adsorption of dissolved heavy metals is widely practiced throughout the world [2, 3]. It is established that FH and AMF effectively adsorb As contained in aqueous solutions [4]. Arsenic removal by adsorption on FH is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Best Demonstrated Available Technology [5]. Twidwell and Leonhard also demonstrated that heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn) are effectively removed from solution by coprecipitation/adsorption using AMF and FH [6]."

Jan 1, 2008

By František Molnar, Zsolt Szentirmai, Juraj Schmiedl, Felix Sekula

"Hydrometallurgical nickel production in Sered Nickel Plant (Slovakia) that treated roasted Albanian ore left behind a considerable amount of the solid leaching residue. About 6 million tons of this fine-powder residue containing approximately 52 wt.% of iron in the form of oxides is to the present day stored in a stockpile. However, its iron content makes it a potentially interesting secondary raw material for iron production. This secondary raw material is not, unfortunately, suitable for direct treatment in iron and steelmaking processes.This paper presents results of the laboratory tests of pyrometallurgical method of processing of the leaching residue by its roasting and subsequent refining melting. The objective of the selective reducing agglomeration roasting was to reduce iron oxides and to simultaneously avoid reduction of chromium oxides and silica. Refining melting is carried out in an inert atmosphere. The products of melting are technically pure iron and slag.IntroductionThe leaching residue stockpiled on waste dump near already non-existing Nickel Plant Sered, Slovakia, is considered to be one of the most important environmental burdens in this country. The 40-years of an on-going effort focused on finding the methods for extracting metals and thus remove the waste dump have not been successful [1,4,5,6]. From the literature survey it is evident that past investigations have been following three main routes:1.Removal of chromium by mineral processing methods prior to its metallurgical treatment to achieve final chromium concentrations below 0.3 wt.%.2.Pelletization of solid leaching residue and its subsequent reduction in blast furnace and steelmaking plant and simultaneous removal of chromium.3.Pelletization of solid leaching residue followed by metallurgical processing of preliminary reduced semi-product in electric arc furnace (EAF) accompanied by partial reduction of chromium."

Jan 1, 2008

By Cristiän Vargas, Jaime Simpson, Gerardo Cifuentes

"This paper presents a new process for the precipitation of Sb and Bi present in copper refinery electrolytes in the presence of Pb02 (Chilean Patent No. 45,037). To establish the conditions under which the precipitating compounds form, it was necessary to evaluate the amount of PbCh consumed, antimony extraction efficiency, precipitate stability, reaction kinetics, diffraction analysis and X-ray fluorescence, separation of size, plus observation of the precipitates in the electron microscope. Preliminary tests were carried with synthetic copper refinery electrolyte, and then the final testing was done with electrolytes from Chilean refineries. This process provides a real alternative for the treatment of copper refinery electrolytes for the control of Sb and Bi in solution; it is very simple to operate and is low cost compared with competing processes.Introduction.A high quality copper cathode implies a cathode free of impurities. The electrorefining process seeks to eliminate these impurities from the copper anode (99.5% purity) by its dissolution in an acid electrolyte using chemical and electrochemical reactions. As a result of this process, a cathode (99.99% purity) is obtained. If the concentration of impurities in the electrolyte, from the dissolved anodes, begins to increase; particularly if the antimony concentration in the electrolyte increases up 500 ppm, the formation of floating slimes which are a major cause of contamination of the cathode is favoured. The most important impurities from the point of view of their effect on the quality of the cathode copper, are Ag, As, Sb, Bi, Pb, Se and Te. Silver is necessary for the control of Se and Te. To control all of these impurities, it is necessary to establish different methods or parameters of control in copper electrorefining. These parameters are anode composition, additives, purification of the electrolyte, current density, acidity, etc."

Jan 1, 2012

By Hai-Xing Fang, Bing Xie, Hong-Yi Li

"In the duplex melting process, chromium forms chromium spinels, the study of which will help to exploit the Hongge ores (rich in chromium) in the Panzhihua-Xichang area in China. Mimicked chromium slag was synthesized. The oxidation and decomposition mechanism of the Fe-Cr spinels contained was studied in a sodium roasting process. The effects of temperature, roasting time, amount of soda added and filling reagents were investigated. The leaching-reduction-precipitation-calcination procedure to extract Cr2CO3 was optimized. The results showed that the optimized roasting temperature was 1000~1020°C with a stoichiometric Na2CO3 addition and without any filling reagents. Roasted materials were leached with distilled water and were filtered to obtain a chromium-containing solution, which was adjusted to pH 1.60-1.80. A reducing reagent, NaHSO3, was added in a stoichiometric ratio and the solution was then adjusted to pH 7.25~8.25. Maximum Cr2O3 precipitation was obtained and the precipitate was calcined at 1050°C for 2h to obtain Cr2Ü3 with recovery rate over 96%.IntroductionChromium is widely applied in the metallurgical industry, in refractory materials and in the chemical industry with its particular properties of hardness, wear-resistance, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance [1]. There is no free state of chromium in nature and chromite is the main chromium containing mineral [2], China is poor in chromium resources, despite its large demand, and there are few deposits of high grade of chromite ores except in some regions in Tibet and Xinjiang province [1, 4]. Hongge, one of largest titanomagnetite mines in Panzhihua-Xichang area, is a polymetallic deposit mainly containing iron and titanium; it is also associated with various beneficial elements such as chromium, copper, nickel, etc. [3]. As investigated in Reference 3, the chromium reserves of Hongge ores are so large that it is of great importance to study how to extract the chromium from them."

Jan 1, 2012

By Magdelinka Padenkova-Yaneva, Emilia Christova Kostakeva

"Environmental protection is becoming over the years an increasingly significant problem of mankind. Up to the last decade the only way to make the domestic waste harmless in Bulgaria was deposition on uncontrolled landfills without undertaking actions for protection of the soils. This also caused pollution to spread into the surface and underground waters and that is why actions are now undertaken for remediation of contaminated soils. This is achieved by developing projects for the closing down of polluted sites. In the present paper some projects for closing down of polluted areas are discussed. The actual conditions are examined and project decisions for preventing the surface waters from penetrating into the waste are presented. In this way the pollution of the soil is stopped and the soils are gradually remediate.IntroductionSoil is the topmost layer of the earth crust. It consists of mineral particles, organic substances, water, air and living organisms and is an extremely complex and changing living environment. Soil is a non-renewable natural resource which is of considerable importance in a number of crucial processes (production of foods, storing, filtrating and turnover of many substances, including water, carbon and nitrogen). It also serves as a basis for human activities, shaping the landscape, ground on which cultural heritage is built, and source of raw materials. These functions of soil must be protected both because of their social and economic significance and from the point of view of environmental protection.The processes of erosion, loss of organic substances, compaction, salination and contamination contribute to the degrading of soils accompanied by a negative impact on human health, natural ecosystems and changes in climate, as well as on the economy. All these make it necessary to protect soils from contamination. Over the last years intensive work started in Bulgaria for the construction of controlled sanitary landfills for rendering municipal solid waste harmless. Pursuant to Bulgarian legislation, in these controlled sanitary landfills measures are undertaken for protecting the soils from contamination through appropriate project decisions – the filtration of the products from the biological decomposition of waste into the adjacent sites (soils) and, therefore, the contamination of the surface and underground waters is prevented. At the same time the purity of air is maintained, human health is protected and conditions are created for including the controlled sanitary landfills into the surrounding landscape."

Jan 1, 2008

By Magdelinka Padenkova-Yaneva, Emilia Christova Kostakeva

"One of the methods for waste treatment is composting during which as a result of controlled biological decomposition of organic waste in aerobic conditions harmless materials are received. Composting takes place in suitably designed premises which ensure the optimal conditions for biochemical decomposition of the waste. A usual way to process composting is the spreading of the waste on a base made from reinforced concrete.In the paper the phases and basic technical features of the process of composting, the requirements and properties of the base and the ways of protection of concrete base against corrosion are revealed. Technical decisions for a specific construction site in Bulgaria are shown and the advantage of achieving durability of the concrete constructions in the plant while achieving simultaneous environment protection from pollution is discussed.IntroductionComposting is the process of controlled biochemical decomposition of vegetable and animal organic waste in aerobic conditions as a result of which harmless materials are obtained. The latter have better stability and are rich in humus substances which are useful for agricultural crops and can be used for restoring the soil fertility [1, 2, 3, 4].In modern waste treatment plants a composting technology is adopted in which the waste is spread on a concrete base as piles with certain dimensions [1, 3]. These piles are periodically stirred or air is blown through them in order to ensure the quantity of oxygen required for the process of aerobic decomposition of the organic matter. The fluids and gases formed in the course of the composting are take away in order not to pollute the environment – air, water, and soils. For this purpose the base on which the waste is spread must satisfy certain requirements, and the gases must be taken away and rendered harmless in order to protect the atmospheric air from pollution. This paper discusses the need for protecting the concrete base from corrosion and characterizes the stages and main parameters of the composting process and the possibilities for primary and secondary protection of the concrete base from corrosion. Specific technical decisions applied in a composting facility in the area of the town of Plovdiv are presented."

Jan 1, 2008

By Wen-Ming Chien, Vamsi Krishna Kamisetty, Amrita Mishra, Ivan Gantan, Prathyusha Mekala, Dhanesh Chandra

"The phase equilibrium and characterization studies by using high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) methods have been performed for binary organic thermal energy storage materials. The organic thermal energy storage materials undergo a solid-solid state phase transition before melting which stores large amounts of thermal energy. Two materials [tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane(TRIS) and 2-Amino-2-methyl-l, 3- propanediol(AMPL)] were used for this study. Binary samples of AMPL-TRIS were prepared to perform high temperature XRD characterization and DSC studies and the binary AMPL-TRIS phase diagram was developed. The high temperature solid-state phases of AMPL and TRIS were characterized as a disordered BCC structure. It was found there is virtually no solubility of TRIS in AMPL or vice versa below -75 °C. The maximum solubility of TRIS in AMPL is 11% TRIS at 75 °C. The eutectoid transformation was shown at 19%TRIS-81%AMPL composition and at a temperature of 75°C. Lattice expansion calculations on single phase of TRIS and AMPL have been performed.IntroductionThermal energy storage materials can store a large amount of heat due to the presence of thermal transitions from the orientationally ordered to disordered phases occurring before melting. These molecules (such as amine and alcohol derivatives of neopentane) can reorient as a whole about the central carbon atom to form orientationally disordered crystals (ODIC) and their spherical shape makes them reorient relatively easier. Thermal energy storage materials are becoming increasingly important as a renewable energy resource. These molecules undergo large changes in enthalpies at solid-solid transitions. The presence of these compounds with large enthalpy changes are identified as potential thermal energy materials and some of die applications are solar cell systems [1-3]. Binary mixtures have been found as a way to adjust the transition properties in addition to pure compounds [4]. Tris(hydroxyrnethyl)aminomethane (TRIS, C(CH2OH)3NH2) and AMPL, CH3C(CH2OH)2NH2) are two important thermal energy storage materials."

Jan 1, 2012

By C. Niedersberg, M. K. Almeida, R. M. C. Santana, V. G. Dalenogore

"The major source of environmental pollution in urban areas is the transport sector and its impact on human health and the greenhouse is preoccupying. In many works of literature is monitored the pollutants in urban cities, however in specific areas such as universities, they are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this work is to monitorate the gaseous pollutans in a bus terminal at Santa Cruz do Sul University-UNISC and to develop a control framework of the air quality. Six points were selected for monitoring, being one of them inside a bus. The monitoring of CO, HC and CO2 were carried out on arrival and departure of the bus. Preliminary results conducted in a day of spring showed that the most critical condition was during the night shift, where the concentration of CO (200 ppm) was the highest, caused by the vehicles increase, due to the larger number of students.IntroductionAccording to Mascarenhas et al, 2005, air pollutants are responsible for various effects on vegetation, ecosystems and is recognized as one of major public health problems of today, with harmful effect on humans even at levels considered safe by Brazilian legislation.There are numerous scientific papers linking air pollution with respiratory problems, cardiovascular which hinder the daily life because many of these diseases are chronic and may even lead to death, as was noted by Brook et al, 2004.There is a significant increase in the last decades of emissions to air resulting mainly from human activities. Already being observed the relationship of these emissions with the change in global climate, IPCC, 1995.They are a multitude of pollutants from the atmosphere, and its sources and its effects. The effect of Greenhouse gases (GHG), representing less than 1% of the gases in the atmosphere, controlling the flow of energy in the atmosphere. The increase in emissions of greenhouse gases is affecting the Earth's average temperature, which depends on the balance between these flows, in particular the flow of solar radiation reaching the surface and the flow of infrared radiation sent into space.One of the main greenhouse gases to this imbalance is the gas methane (CH4). Methane is produced by anaerobic decomposition of organic substances, through the action of bacteria metanogenic conditions that require highly reduced to its growth. This gas is released into the atmosphere mainly by transport diffusive by aerenchyma (vascular tissue) plant and also by diffusion through the water slide. (Bont et al., 1978)."

Jan 1, 2008

By Alexander V. Suvorin, Vladyslav M. Sokolov

"The traditional technologies for production of the coprecipitated and deposited catalysts are analyzed from the standpoint of diversion of application of the feedstock and increase of efficiency for its usage. The options for return of the metals of spent catalysts to the catalysts production are described. The novel environmentally friendly and cost efficient approach for reutilization of the spent catalysts is realized in practice. It anticipates application along with spent catalysts of the waste generated in the catalytic productions. Reutilization of the Ni-containing catalysts is referred as an illustration. Introduction The recent development of large catalytic manufacturing for organic and inorganic synthesis, and petroleum refinery as well as for applied environmental catalysis has brought about increase and diversification of catalysts production. The generation of spent catalysts has been increased correspondently. The feedstock for production of catalysts is mostly metals in a form of nitrates, carbonates, hydroxides, hydroxydcarbonates. Sometimes salts of organic acids, of ammoniates, of chlorides and of sulphates occur. All these materials are scarce and expensive. So their repeated use by reutilization of spent catalysts is very actual issue. The traditional recycling the Fe-, Cr-, Ni-, Cu- or Zn-containing spent catalysts are carried out by pyrometallurgical reclamation of pure metals or alloys. They can not be used directly in production of catalysts [1, 2]. The hydrometallurgical approach is used for recycling spent catalysts with PGM, W, Mo, Co, Ni or Cu. It provides production of salts of these metals in a form of sulphates, chlorides, carbonates, hydroxydcarbonates and sometimes nitrates or ammoniates. Only a limited number of these salts can be used directly in production of catalysts. Material losses during catalysts production The basic feedstock for manufacturing coprecipitated and deposited catalysts that may be produced from the spent catalysts is aqueous solutions of metals nitrates. Their production is based on application of nitric acid as a dissolvent. About half of it is lost with the flue gases in a form of nitrates vapor and nitrogen oxides (II, IV). The last compound is generated by reaction:"

Jan 1, 2008

By Petr Sulovsky, Pavel Leber, Jaroslava Ledererova, Miroslav Svoboda

"The properties of raw materials used for the production of building materials play an essential role in their choice. Industrial waste materials can in some cases improve the performance of new building materials, when compared with classical raw materials. The addition of waste can however negatively impact some of the building material´s characteristics, influencing its stability, service time, durability, and can introduce undesirable variation of certain characteristics over time. It is necessary that each secondary raw material intended for such use be thoroughly investigated in terms of its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties, with special attention paid to the risk components and risk parameters. It is necessary to make many- sided technological tests in relation to the required characteristics of the resulting materials for each chosen application. Moreover, the limit values for the critical (risk) parameters, which the given secondary raw material must satisfy to be used in a specific technology, need to be defined. Introduction The risk components in the industrial waste materials to be used in the production of building materials fall into two groups: - components that pose a risk of development (instant or delayed) of a process deleterious to the utility properties and durability of the resulting materials. Such processes include volume change (expansion as well as shrinkage), alkali-silica reaction, delayed ettringite formation, thaumassite attack, aggressive carbonation, etc. - elements or components that can, if released from the waste-containing building material, pollute the environment. They involve the so called potentially hazardous elements as well as compounds like fenols, PCB, PAHs etc. From the viewpoint of the presence of both groups of risk components, the wastes can be classified as: • environmentally inert waste materials. They are produced in the largest volumes and do not pose a threat to human health. Their physical and/or chemical characteristics fail to satisfy all requirements for utilization in ordinary production. The aim of technology design is to work them into the building products with suitable utility properties. • easier workable waste materials containing toxic components are produced in large volumes. In spite of the content of toxic components, their physical and chemical properties make them suitable for ordinary production, provided that the harmful substances are immobilized by the chosen technology."

Jan 1, 2008

By Ludy C. Motta, Denise C. O. Nascimento, Sergio N. Monteiro

"Natural cellulose-based fibers are nowadays of growing interest for modern industrial composites. Relatively unknown fibers like piassava, curaua and gourde have shown promising behavior as reinforcement of polymeric composites. However, the hydrophilic characteristics of the natural fibers impair its adhesion to the normally hydrophobic polymeric matrix. Surface treatments can, in principle, improve this adhesion and the fiber/matrix interfacial strength. In this paper, the effect of alkali treatment of the surface of piassava (Atallea funifera) waste fibers was investigated in terms of the change in strength of epoxy composites reinforced with these waste fibers.IntroductionThe consequences of global warming and the increase in the price of petroleum are motivating the use of natural materials as substitute for energy intensive synthetic materials [1]. In particular, natural fibers obtained both, from cultivated plants such as jute, sisal, hemp and flax as well as from industrial waste such as sugar come bagasse and coir, are being considered to replace synthetic glass fibers [2,3]. These natural fibers, also known as lignocellulosic fibers, present the comparative advantages of being renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. Moreover, lignocellulosic fibers require less amount of processing energy and are neutral with respect to CO2 emission, which causes the atmospheric greenhouse effect responsible for the global warming [4]. Low cost is another important economical advantage of the natural fibers over the synthetic ones and the application of lignocellulosic is also associated with a lower wear of processing equipment and better finishing of molded components [5]. Moreover, for some fibers, properties such as the mechanical strength and impact resistance can be superiors to the corresponding properties of synthetic glass fiber [6]. The characteristics and properties of several lignocellulosic fibers are, nowadays being extensively discussed in the literature. It is beyond the scope of this work to comment on the hundreds of papers dealing with this subject. However, there are still less known fibers with great potential as engineering material that deserves investigation."

Jan 1, 2008

By Guodong Lai, Shixing Wang, Lijuan Chu, Jinhui Peng, Zebiao Zhang

"The beneficiation of poor manganese ores containing phosphate gangue is very difficult by conventional processes, because of the similarities in the physico-chemical properties of the constituent minerals. The shaking table gravity concentration process and concentrated strong acid selective intensified leaching process were used for dephosphorisation of Yunnan manganese ore. The leaching process was effective. The effects of intensified leaching time, solid-liquid ratio and particle size were investigated. The relevant leaching factors were optimized as -0.125+0.088 mm particle size with 68% nitric acid for 24 h when using a solid-liquid ratio of 1:1 at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Under these conditions, the P/Mn ratio was reduced from 0.0107 to 0.0056, and the grade of manganese was increased from 12.32% to 42.76%. The dissolution of manganese during leaching was negligible.IntroductionManganese and its compounds are widely used in the iron and steel industry as deoxidation and desulfurization agents and as alloying additives [1-2]. Because of the increase in demand, low grade refractory manganese ores are becoming a new source. Many Chinese manganese ores are high in phosphorus, which cannot be used directly for metallurgical purposes. This occurs because phosphorus enters into the metal phase during smelting and its presence sharply deteriorates the mechanical properties of the metal [3-4].Kanungo and Sant [3] investigated the dephosphorization of phosphorus-rich manganese ores by selective leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid. They observed that leaching with dilute hydrochloric acid (0.1-0.6M) could reduce the phosphorus contents to the specified limit of 0.12%. Ye [5] investigated dephosphorization of high-phosphorus manganese ore of the Huayuan type. Using high intensity magnetic separation, roasting and leaching with acid for dephosphorization, as used in the industry, a 40.15% manganese concentrate with a P/Mn ratio of 0.0037 was obtained. Yimin [6] investigated magnetic separation followed by inverse flotation of high-phosphorus manganese ore, and found that the P/Mn ratio could be reduced from 0.046 to 0.002."

Jan 1, 2012

By Tomas Astorga

APEC, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is the forum of 21 countries having approximately 56% of the total world income, and over 45% of global trade. In 1997, APEC economies produced 67% of the world copper output, 55% of gold, and over 45% of other base metals. Mining in APEC captures more than 60% of the total mining investment in the world. New and emerging economies are now appearing in the demand scenery, such as China. New trends in the international environmental regulations are posing questions related to the use of copper in different industrial and consumption applications. These may have a strong impact on future trade of copper. New applications are also appearing based in new technology fields. The paper examines the growth potential of the copper market in main consumer ad highly populated economies of APEC, incorporating analysis of various interrelated factors. It also analyses the outlook of the copper supply. Its conclusions point to the need to implement demand outlook models. Finance and economic reforms will open important avenues for trade growth in basic metals, particularly copper. Changes in the consumption patterns of highly populated countries will add to better perspectives of copper demands. The recovery of a fast pace of economic growth in the APEC region will bring new demands for copper, especially as a consequence of high tech applications. More extended policies focused in the need for developing energy efficiency programs and schemes will add to this picture.

Jan 1, 1999

By Michael G. King

The primary non-ferrous metals industry is the principal supplier of the minor metals selenium, tellurium and bismuth. It is also a major supplier of antimony. These minor elements are recovered from by-products of base metals production. To ensure that these elements remain available, the cost of production must be compatible with four other factors - method of production, available supply, technological niches, and product stewardship. This paper first describes the relationship between the copper industry and the production of tellurium and selenium. The more complex relationship between the lead industry and bismuth production is then discussed, followed by comments on antimony availability. Product stewardship programs are essential to the growth or certain specialized markets for these metals. Smelters and refineries of non- ferrous metals will play a major role in the recycling of scraps and wastes from these markets. Examples on how such materials can be recycled are given in the paper.

Jan 1, 1995

By Katragadda Sarveswara Rao

"In view of the increasing importance of processing lean ores as potential future resources, efforts are being made worldwide to develop suitable technologies for the recovery of both nonferrous, base and precious metals. There are various types of low grade ores present in many countries. Gradually, the mineral reserves for production of metals have undergone complex changes with regards to their grades and particularly the physical and chemical properties of the minerals to be separated from each other. So, there is a need for new processing routes or the upgrading of existing technologies to recover metal values that are otherwise unutilized. Accordingly, an overview of the different types of mineral resources and economical processes, based on ore horizons, consumption of energy and reagents and environmental concerns, is made in this paper. In addition, the paper provides a summary of metallurgical and engineering challenges to be overcome when implementing new technologies and concepts with regard to base metal extraction and sulphur removal efficiency.IntroductionLow grade multimetal complex sulfide ores are likely to become an importance source for nonferrous as well as precious metals in the near future. The principle metallic minerals are chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, tetrahedrite, boulangerite and cassiterite. Such ores are located throughout the world as multi-pocketed reserves which have present complex challenges with regard to their grades and particularly the physical and chemical properties of the minerals to be separated from each other. Their compositions can vary widely from one deposit to another and even from one location to another in the same deposit, and this poses a problem for the recovering metals present therein. Successful aqueous processing of complex sulphide ores depends on the composition and mineralogy of the raw materials and on their leaching behaviour."

Jan 1, 2012

By Zhu Fangyi

"The article introduces the process EAF with De-P hot metal charging for Melting Stainless Steel in Baosteel stainless steel Branch. Based on the practice of production, the main effect on the Cr Loss during EAF with De-P Hot Metal Charging Melting Stainless Steel including using oxygen, the material charging and making slag are theoretically analyzed. The optimization of using oxygen can reduce the oxidation of Cr during EAF Melting Stainless Steel. The optimization of material charging, especially Si content is suitable can reduce the loss of Cr. Effective reduction can realize the lowest Cr oxide in slag. Based on the character of the process EAF with De-P hot metal charging for Melting Stainless Steel, applied the integrated control method, the Cr loss during EAF melting stainless steel decreased 43.10%. 1 INTRODUCTION EAF with De-P HM charging for melting stainless steel is a technology for stainless steel making. Practice prove that the new process can shorten tap to tap time, reduce the special power consumption, dilute the impurity element from the stainless steel scrap that is propitious to produce the high quality stainless steel, alleviate the shortage of stainless steel scrap to the production. As a new technology, the process has some technical problems and difficulties. The proportion of Cr alloy charging exceeds 20% during EAF with De-P hot metal charging melting stainless steel. As Cr alloy is difficult melting and easy oxidation, too much Cr alloy charging result in Cr loss too much and tap to tap time too long for EAF production. By applying the new technology, Baosteel stainless steel branch has increased the technology level and economy index. Now the content of Cr oxide in slag reduce from 8.59% to less than 6.0%. The Cr loss during EAF melting stainless steel decreased 43.10%. According to the practice application, the process of EAF with De-P HM melting stainless steel are theoretically analyzed. The main factors affecting the Cr loss during EAF with De-P hot metal charging melting stainless steel are discussed."

Jan 1, 2008