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By Afrodite Ntziouni, Vassilia Kasselouri – Rigopoulou, Athanasia Kyritsi, Konstantinos N. Pistiolas, Stamatia Gavela, Konstantinos Kordatos, Lazaros Iliadis

"The present study deals with the production and characterization of rice husk ash (RHA) and its use in the synthesis of zeolite of type ZSM-5. Rice husk was combusted in various temperatures with aim to find the suitable conditions for the production of amorphous silica. The resulted amorphous silica ash was then utilized as a starting material for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite using the low temperature and atmospheric pressure process. The method led successfully to the synthesis of highly siliceous zeolite of type ZSM-5. The produced material was characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).IntroductionRice husk is a major by-product of the rice-milling industries and it is usually used as a fuel for steam generation due to its high calorific power. During its combustion, rice husk ash (RHA) is produced. Knowing that the annual rice world production is over 615 million tons (2005), thus resulting in a potential production of more than 22 million tons of RHA [1], it can be understood that the RHA disposal is a crucial issue towards the environmental protection. However, due to the high silica content, RHA can be used as an alternative cheap source of silica for many uses, including as filler in polymers [2], concrete [3] and synthesis of zeolites [4-7].The burning of rice husk in air results in the formation of RHA with content in SiO2 that varies from 87 to 97% depending on the burning conditions, the rice variety, the climate and the geographic area [8]. Some small amounts of inorganic impurities are always present in the ash along with unburned carbon. The unburned carbon can be removed from the ash by further heating treatments in high temperatures, but this usually leads to the crystallization of the amorphous silica to cristobalite and/or tridymite [9]. The crystallization of the contained silica of the ash is also occurred when the burning conditions of husk are uncontrolled [10]. This crystallization is a disadvantage towards the preparation of silicon based materials, because the silica ash is rendered inactive in its crystalline form [11]."

Jan 1, 2008

By M. O. Lai

"Metal matrix composite (MMC) with composition of Al-4.Swt.%Cu reinforced by IOwt.%TiB2 or ISwt.%SiC particulate has been successfully fabricated using powder metallurgy technique. Disk, compression and beam specimens were prepared with (a) layered structure containing ductile Al-4.Swt.%Cu with brittle Al-4.Swt.%Cu/TiB2 or Al-4.Swt.%Cu/SiC layers, and (b) homogenous constituent with composition of Al-4.Swt.%Cu/lOwt.%TiB2' The specimens for the fracture toughness measurement were built through three ductile-brittle-ductile alternating layers. For the beam specimens, the layers were built through brittle-ductile-brittle sequence. The brittle layer consisted of Al-4.S%Cu with fixed amount of reinforcement. Fracture toughness testing revealed an increase for layered composites although the total amount of the reinforcement was the same for all disk specimens. The increase in fracture toughness is due to the existence of ductile layers which manifests a strong influence on delaying the occurrence of fracture. It acts as a barrier to resist the propagation of crack and hence increases the fracture toughness of the layered MMC specimens, Delamination in the beam specimens was observed to be due to shear stresses. Fracture surfaces of both disk, compress and beam specimens were characterized using the SEM. IntroductionMechanical and thermal properties can be achieved by the incorporation of refractory secondary phases to constrain the plastic flow of the matrix in a metal matrix composite (MMC). The size of the reinforcement particulate incorporated must be in the range larger than the dislocation cell size and strongly bonded to the matrix (I). Particulate reinforced metal matrix composites hence provide high modulus, improved wear resistance and strength (2-4). Because of the incorporation of refractory phases which are generally brittle, the major limitation in the mechanical properties of MMCs is their limited ductility in comparison to their base metals. Cracks normally initiate from the reinforcement and voids (4, 5). Due to the lack of ductility, cracks propagate rapidly with increase in load. As a result, the interactions between reinforcement particles and propagating cracks have recently been of great research interest (6). In addition, volume fraction of reinforcement and aging condition of the matrix significantly affect the mechanical behaviour of MMCs. In the case of AI-3.5%Cu reinforced with varying volume fractions of SiC particulate, it has been found that the probability of particle fracture increased with increasing volume fraction of reinforcement (7)."

Jan 1, 1996

By Shantaliu S. Shevade, Muhammad M. Rahman

"This paper presents a systematic analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer processes during the magnetic heating of the substrate material. Heat is generated in the substrate material when a magnetic field is imposed due to change in orientation of the molecules. As a result, the substrate temperature rises. The i;tudy considered microchannels with rectangular and square cross section with heat generation in the substrate due to imposed magnetic field. The results computed were for Gadolinium substrate and water as the working fluid. The purpose of this study is to explore the transient heat transfer coefficient when the fluid is circulated through the substrate via microchannels. Equations governing the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy were solved in the fluid region. In the solid region, heat conduction was solved. From the simulation results, plots of Nusselt number and heat transfer coefficient were obtained over the length of the channel. A thorough investigation for velocity and temperature distributions was performed by varying channel aspect ratio, Reynolds number, and heat generation rate in the channel. It was found that the peripheral average heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number is larger near the entrance and decreases downstream because of the development of the thermal boundary layer. With the increase in Reynolds number, the outlet temperature decreased and the average heat transfer coefficient increased.IntroductionMagnetocaloric effect (MCE) is the heating or cooling of the magnetic materials due to varying magnetic field. The effect was originally discovered by Warburg. Magnetocaloric materials store heat energy in the way the atoms vibrate and in the way electrons spin within each atom. More heat energy increases the vibrations and also makes the spins more random. When a strong magnetic field is applied to a magnetic material, the magnetic moments of its atoms become aligned making the system more ordered. The more ordered material has lower entropy and compensates for the loss by heating up. When the magnetic field is removed, the magnetic moments return to their random directions, entropy increases and the material cools. Gadolinium is a magnetic material that exhibits high temperature rise during adiabatic magnetization around its transition temperature of 295 K. It has been experimentally observed that adiabatic temperature rise increases with magnetic field strength and can be as high 20 K when a magnetic field of IO T is applied. Thus magnetic field, when applied to a microchannel heat exchanger, causes temperature change in the magnetic material. The fluid flowing through the channel gets cooled or heated due to this adiabatic temperature change."

Jan 1, 2004

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 Jian Li, S. Penttilä, P. Liu, W. Zheng, C. Bibby

"The materials selection for Gen IV supercritical water reactor in-core components faces major challenges due to severe operating condition. The current Canadian pressure-tube supercritical water (SCW) concept design requires core outlet temperature of 650 °C at 25 MPa with peak cladding temperature reaching as high as 850 °C. Aside from oilier challenges, there is currently very limited data on candidate stainless steels' corrosion resistance under this operating condition. Austenite stainless steels that include 316L, 304H, AL6XN and 3 l0S that cover a wide range of Cr contents are promising candidates for either direct in core applications or as base coating materials. However, their corrosion resistance has not been tested systematically under this stringent condition. In this study, these types of stainless steels are tested, and their corrosion resistances are compared.IntroductionThe Canadian pressure-tube supercritical water (SCW) concept will operate at a core outlet temperature of 650 °C at a pressure of 25 MPa, with potential peak cladding temperature reaching as high as 850 °C. High-temperature corrosion resistance is one of the key design requirements for fuel cladding components. As summarized by Allen [1 ], most testing to date has been carried out at temperatures below 730 °C. To date, SCW corrosion data above 600 °C is very limited. Even at relatively low temperature exposure to SCW (e.g. 500 °C), F/M steels develop a thick oxide layer rapidly, while some austenitic stainless steels develop thinner surface oxide. Ni based alloys appear to form very thin surface oxide, however pitting was observed in the vicinity of intermetallic precipitates [2-5]. Dissolution of major alloying components from all of these alloys could also pose significant problems for downstream piping [6]. Kaneda et al. [7] suggested some modified stainless steels provide better SCW general corrosion resistance, with no sign of SCC under the slow-strain rate test.Cho [8] suggested that as the Cr content increase, general corrosion resistance improved at 510 °C and 25 MPa. However, similar to Cho's work, most of the SCW corrosion resistance assessments were based on weight change measurement. This can be unreliable due to potential exfoliation of thick oxide film. Besides, there have been no systematic SCW corrosion resistance tests for candidate stainless steels under higher temperatures. SCW corrosion rate increase dramatically for alloys tested at 600 °C [1]. It is also important to understand the role of major alloying elements under this stringent operating condition, not only for fuel cladding components' materials selection, but also for coating materials development."

Jan 1, 2013

By Ehsan Vahidi, Fereshteh Rashchi, Amirhossein Shahnazi

"The pig iron from steel manufacturing plants contains a high concentration of vanadium-bearing materials smelted with iron ore. During the oxidation process of the molten pig iron with oxygen lances, vanadium transfers to the slag. In this research, recovery of vanadium from LD (Linz-Donawitz) converter slag of steelmaking plant was investigated. The leaching residue was characterized by XRD and XRF techniques. The maximum vanadium recovery was achieved at optimum leaching conditions of 70 °C, S/L: 1/15, sodium hydroxide concentration: 3 M and leaching time: 150 minutes. The dissolution rate increased with rising sodium hydroxide concentration and temperature and decreasing particle size. The experimental data are treated graphically to explain the kinetics of the vanadium recovery process using shrinking core model (SCM). As a result, the controlling regimes in the SCM were analyzed separately using liquid film diffusion control, solid product diffusion control, and reaction control mechanisms.IntroductionVanadium is commercially important as a constituent of several alloys and catalysts. Nowadays, vanadium is mostly recovered as a by-product from secondary sources or from industrial waste streams such as titaniferrous magnetite, fly ash, spent catalysts, and petroleum coke. Steelmaking operations are specifically concerned by this problem due to the production of a huge quantity of by-products [1]. These by-products, including LD converter slag, sludge, fly ash, spent catalyst, ash, and alloyed scrap, contain a notable amount of heavy metals which may cause environmental problems. Solvent extraction is one of the techniques being increasingly used for the recovery of vanadium [2]. Apart from vanadium ore, secondary resources such as titanmagnetite, ilmenite and slag from the ferrous industry are a major source of supply. The pig iron from steel manufacturing contains a majority of vanadium-bearing materials smelted with iron ore. In a heat resistant shaking ladle the molten pig iron is oxidized with oxygen lances, causing the vanadium to be transferred to the slag. Normally, the vanadium in LD converter steel slag (coming from Linz-Donawitz steelmaking process) is ca. 5% as vanadium pentoxide (V2O5). This slag is the world's principal raw material for vanadium production [3, 4]. Moskalyk and Alfantazi [4] reported that a roast-leach process is used in South Africa for the production of vanadium oxides from magnetite ores while some of the slag was converted to ferrovanadium. A portion of the slag was exported to Europe for the production of vanadium oxide. The researchers mentioned that alkaline roasting was the main process at that time employed to extract vanadium pentoxide from vanadium slags."

Jan 1, 2012

By P. D. Ferro

The direct oxide reduction (DOR) of plutonium oxide generates significant amounts of contaminated waste. This waste primarily consists of calcium oxide-saturated calcium chloride salt. This investigation explores the possibility of recycling the salt, by the electroreduction of the calcium oxide. Fused salt electrolysis of a simulated salt mix (CaC12 + ~10 wt. pct. CaO) is being carried out to electrowin calcium, and the process is being optimized in terms of the calcium solubility, cell temperature, current density and cell design to maximize the current efficiency. This work identifies the major concerns in the development of a process to electrowin calcium from this simulated salt mix.

Jan 1, 1992

By Patricio Barrios

This paper discusses the revamp and expansion of Atlantic Copper's (formerly Rio Tinto Metal) copper smelter located at Huelva, Spain. The plant was expanded from 150,000 to 270,000 tpy new copper in anodes, and from 133,000 to 215,000 tpy cathodes. Lurgi successfully executed this contract on a lump-sum, turnkey basis in just 19 months. The Lurgi on-site task force performed this work in close cooperation with Atlantic Copper's personnel, with a minimum of disruption in the plant's ongoing operation. The contractual performance parameters were achieved to the client's satisfaction shortly after the mechanical completion of the respective plant sections.

Jan 1, 1998

Testing is in progress to address compatibility issues with regard to long term storage of plutonium in contact with two different intermetallic systems. The two intermetallic systems are: 1. dental amalgam, i.e., mercury plus silver alloy powder, and 2. liquid gallium alloy plus copper powder. Both of these are plasto-metallic materials that undergo a solidification reaction at room temperature. Each system is allowed to react in contact with both high-purity alpha plutonium and a delta stabilized plutonium alloy at varying temperatures in an argon atmosphere. Wetting characteristics and possible interaction will be studied metallographically in the post-mortem condition. Complete results including metallographic examinations will be presented.

Jan 1, 1995

By Byung-Young Choi

Nitrogenated carbon films were deposited on the high-frequency induction hardened steels by ion beam assisted deposition. X-ray photoeleetron. spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze the chemical content and the morphology of the coated steels. Rolling contact fatigue tests were performed using Polymet RCF-1 machine with a constant supply of lubricant. It was found that CNx films adherent to the steels substrates were formed by ion beam assisted deposition. It was also found in the rolling contact fatigued specimens that non-propagating crack was initiated in the white etching area indicating the maximum shear stressed, region, leading to surface failure.

Jan 1, 2000

By Patrick F. Mahoney

Each year in the United States over 10 million tons of metal are discarded with our municipal waste. This, includes, not only ferrous metals, aluminum and copper but gold, silver, platinum and every other precious metal. Resource recovery, as an approach to waste management, is replacing disposal and it presents great opportunities for those in the metal refining and recovery industry. Combustion of waste enriches the metal fraction left in the ash to the point where metals can be efficiently recovered. The recovery and quality of metals can be enhanced by good combustion control. Innovative technology is needed to efficiently tap this generous, and renewable mine.

Jan 1, 1995

By Kimura. E.

Continuous estimation of phosphorus content of molten copper is required to produce phosphorus deoxidized copper in a continuous casting operation. The phosphorus content of molten copper was related to its electric resistivity, which was measured by the four-probed technique with a specially-shaped cell. In a laboratory scale, the linear relationship between the above factors was confirmed in the temperature range of 1083OC through 1200°C. The phosphorus concentration range measured was from 40 to 500 ppm. The phosphorus content was monitored successfully by measuring the electric resistivity of the molten copper in the distributor of a continuous caster in an industrial scale.

Jan 1, 1992

By Ali Unal, Ali I. Kahveci

Alcoa developed a fractional crystallization process some 30 years ago as a method to purify aluminum. Depending on the purity of feed metal, it has been commercially used to make 3N7-6N purity aluminum. As an extension of this technology, Alcoa has experimented with purifying various aluminum alloy scrap for the purpose of recycling. Purified aluminum alloy scrap can be reused for making the same alloy. This presentation will discuss Alcoa fractional crystallization technology and its application to alloy scrap processing. Process capabilities and the partitioning of eutectic and peritectic impurities during fractional crystallization will be discussed for the alloy systems investigated.

Jan 1, 2000

By P. Mercille, M. F. Nasmyth, J. G. Cooper

The turn of the century sees considerable activity in the zinc industry for the replacement or expansion of existing cellhouses, and the building of new cellhouses as part of new zinc projects. Aside from the cellhouse technology itself, numerous engineering and construction issues play a major role in the success of a project for replacing or building new cellhouses. The purpose of this paper is to bring to light and to address the engineering and construction factors which go beyond the selection of a cellhouse technology and which remain of key importance in implementing such projects. In addition, some implications of these factors for project costs will be illustrated.

Jan 1, 2000

By P. Ruz

A melt transfer ladle was 3D modeled by means of a mathematical fluid dynamics and heat transfer program. Internal temperature profiles were calculated as a time function for a normal ladle and for a pre-heated refractory lined ladle. It was shown that in a normal ladle the molten metal cools down quickly forming accretions. By using an inner lining there are practically no accretions build up within a typical time of operation. Therefore, by applying a refractory lining to a melt transfer ladle and keeping it at a moderate to high temperature it is possible to reduce cold dope circulation in the smelter.

Jan 1, 1999

By D. G. Schmidt

Tests were conducted on C86200 high-strength yellow brass in order to ascertain the effect of a low level of nickel on the mechanical properties on this alloy. A series of two alloys was studied, one of which had a nickel content of 0.85% and the other with <0.05% nickel. Copper and aluminum content ranged from 62.5% to 64% and 3.2% to 4.6%, respectively. When compared by zinc equivalents, a nickel addition of 0.75% in high-strength yellow brass does not act like copper but raises the tensile strength, 0.5% yield strength and BHN while lowering the elongation.

Jan 1, 1999

By G. P. Swayn

Recycling of dusts produced in a flash furnace by direct injection provides the opportunity to reduce recycle loads to the reaction shaft, lower fuel requirements and possibly increase metal recovery to products. Ausmelt has provided an Ausmelt lance system for injecting dusts collected from the waste heat boiler and electrostatic precipitator units, directly into the slag melt. This has been installed and operated in the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter with systems for feeding dust, for firing with oil and air, and for raising and lowering the lance. Modelling and testwork development of dust injection, results of commercial trials and design considerations for further opportunities of the Ausmelt lance system, are discussed.

Jan 1, 1994

By C. K. Gupta

Electrometallurgical processes have a definite place in the extraction technology of rare earth metals and alloys. Some of the advantages of the molten-salt electrometallurgical processes include fast electrode reaction, providing accurately controlled large amount of energy to a relatively small reactor volume, negligible over voltage, simplicity of operation, and possibility of accomplishing continuous or semicontinuoue operations. This paper provides a vivid account of the theoretical and practical aspects of electrometallurgical processes for the production and processing of some of the rare earth metals and alloys. Reference has been drawn to the work reported on electrometallurgical processes as applied to the preparation of lanthanum, cerium and misch metal from author&apos;s laboratory.

Jan 1, 1992

By Min Chen, Zhen Tian, Hongxu Cui

"The effects of adjusting technology on the phosphorous enrichment in converter slag were investigated. The results showed that the grain size of 2CaO·SiO2 with high phosphorus containing content increased slightly with the decreasing of cooling rate, and the proper cooling rate was confirmed to be about l.0°C.min-1. Moreover, the morphology of the phosphorus-rich phase of 2CaO·SiO2-3CaO·P2O 5 was changed from granular for the higher basicity of converter slag to the coexistence of granular shape and rod-like for the lower basicity of adjusted slag. With the addition of adjusting agent such as SiO2 to lower the basicity of converter slag, the phosphorus in converter slag could be transferred into 2CaO·Si02 phase effectively, and P2O 5 content in high phosphorus containing phase reached to above 30%.IntroductionThe yield of converter slag is very large in China, but most of the slag is stacked usually after the separation of iron, which not only takes up a lot of land, but also affects the ecological environment seriously. Therefore, improving the comprehensive utilization and value-added products of converter slag is of great significance to recycle the steelmaking slag[l-3]. On the other hand, the refining of hot metal with high phosphorous content is an unavoidable problem with the decreasing of high grade iron ore, and as a result, more amounts of high phosphorus containing steelmaking slag are produced. However, the current recycle of converter slag is more focused on the emission reduction and reuse of steelmaking slag inside the iron and steelmaking process without considering the recycle of phosphorous resources[4-6]. At the same time, the development and utilization of phosphate ore as a strategic resource is drawing more and more attention, but the phosphate ore in China is mostly low grade and significant amounts of tailings are produced which is harmful to the environment. Therefore, it is important to separate phosphorous resources in steelmaking slag which can be used as phosphate ore for fertilizer material[7-9].Literature studies showed that most of the phosphorus in steelmaking slag existing as 2CaO·SiO2-3CaO·P2O 5 solid solution phase in 2CaO·SiO2 particle. The P2O 5 content in the phosphorus containing phase is very low due to the fact that the basicity of converter slag is usually high and the precipitated amounts of 2CaO·SiO2 particles during cooling are very large, resulting in the fact that the P2O 5 contents in 2CaO·SiO2-3CaO·P2O 5 solid solution phase are much lower which is impossible to be used as phosphorous resources instead of phosphate ore. Thus, the enrichment of phosphorus in steelmaking slag is need[ 10-14]."

Jan 1, 2011

By Tamas Kekesi

Anion exchange in HCl media is considered an efficient alternative to the combination of the conventional purification methods. Anion-exchange distribution functions have been determined for cobalt and the main impurity elements by the technique of batch equilibration. Results were confirmed by spectrophotometric investigations and elution tests. Based on the new and the available distribution functions, combined with the assessment of thermodynamic stability, a procedure of anion exchange separation has been devised to eliminate virtually all the impurities from the cobalt-chloride solution. Separation of copper has been enhanced by the introduction of a preliminary step under reduced conditions. The rest of the impurities are eliminated in a second anion-exchange step applying rinsing and elution stages under oxidized conditions. The optimum parameters of the procedure have been determined according to performance characteristics (purification ratios, yields and volume efficiencies) derived from the analysis of elution curves obtained with laboratory scale ion-exchange columns. Special computer programs have been developed to facilitate thermodynamic simulation, analytical correction and data processing.

Jan 1, 2003