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At least 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Integrated CO 2 -facilitated Hydrometallurgical and Electrochemical Technology for Sustainable Mining and Recovery of Critical Elements from Wastes and Ashes

The availability of critical materials and other metals is very important for our national security and economic growth since they are widely used in defense and energy applications including batteries and wind turbines. Unfortunately, high grade ores have become scarce and their productions is dominated by limited countries. Thus, there is a strong need to obtain these materials from domestic sources. Municipal wastes are great candidates since they often contain high concentrations of metals. Since the metals in wastes and waste ashes are not in the form found in natural ores and contain a wide range of impurities, conventional extraction processes would not be effective. Thus, our project has developed an innovative MIDAS process based on the integrated CO2-facilitated hydrometallurgical and electrochemical technology that can effectively recover critical materials and metals from waste ashes while minimizing the environmental impacts. We have (i) characterized waste ashes to understand their physico-chemical properties, (ii) developed green solvent systems for hydrometallurgical extraction of critical elements and metals from waste ashes, (iii) explored electrochemical interfaces to refine the extracted metals.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Characterization and Recovery of Critical Metals from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Ashes

The dependence on international supplies and lack of diverse supplies of critical materials (such as rare earth elements, REEs) have prompted the US to explore new sources and develop environmentally friendly technologies for critical metal extraction, processing, and manufacturing. Secondary wastes have been explored for the recovery of REEs. Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a large solid waste stream and may constitute the largest resource for REEs and other critical metals; yet its incineration ashes (MSWI ashes) have received limited attention in terms of critical metal recovery. On the other hand, management of MSWI ashes also presents significant challenges both operationally and financially, such as landfill costs, volume reduction, and contaminant immobilization. To address the challenges associated with the management of and resource recovery from MSWI ashes, this project developed a closed-loop, integrated, scalable, and environmentally friendly waste management and resource recovery system. This system is characterized with maximum recovery of REEs, production of additional salable products, minimal production of secondary waste, and high immobilization of heavy metal contaminants.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Beneficial Use of Harvested Ponded Fly Ash and Landfilled FGD Materials for High-Volume Surface Mine Reclamation

The overall motivation of this project was to demonstrate at laboratory, bench-scale, and full-scale demonstration levels that (a) coal ash surface impoundments can go through closure by removal as per USEPA and state regulations so that the material can be used as is (other than draining free water using CCRs piles) in high-volume beneficial applications, (b) FGD material from closed out FGD facilities can be excavated and recompacted for coal mine reclamation, and (c) harvested CCRs can be beneficially utilized (providing a net environmental gain) in large-volumes for reclamation at abandoned coal mine sites across the US, especially in the Eastern and Midwest coal mining regions. The objectives of this project were to: 1) promote the safe and cost-effective closure by removal of coal ash impoundments, 2) harvest landfilled FGD, and 3) promote the high-volume beneficial use of these harvested CCRs in the reclamation of abandoned surface coal mine sites across the eastern and midwestern coal mining regions of the United States. The major tasks carried out for this project are summarized below: 1) Conesville Full-Scale Demonstration Project: About 2 million tons of harvested CCR materials from the closure by removal of an inactive fly ash pond and an adjacent old FGD landfill were used for the full-scale demonstration project to fully reclaim a nearby partially completed abandoned surface coal mine. Site monitoring for the project duration was carried out and results are discussed. 2) Laboratory Testing: Geotechnical and environmental testing of harvested ponded fly ash and landfilled FGD material at the former Conesville power plant were carried out. Completing the laboratory testing allowed for QA/QC for the full-scale site construction and informed the formulation of the risk analysis. 3) Risk Analysis: We developed a reliable computational model for fate and transport. We used these models and the rich set of monitored data for the Conesville site to analyze risks to human health and ecological risks associated with high-volume surface mine reclamation using harvested CCRs. 4) GIS Siting Study: A Geographic Information System (GIS) study was carried out for three states in the Eastern coal mining region and two states in the Midwest coal region. This effort provided site specific GIS information for five states and allowed us to establish protocols that other states can follow in implementing their own state specific GIS study.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1971

One dimensional lunar ash flow with and without heat transfer

The characteristics of lunar ash flow are discussed in terms of the two phase flow theory of a mixture of a gas and small solid particles. A model is developed to present the fundamental equations and boundary conditions. Numerical solutions for special ash flow with and without heat transfer are presented. In the case of lunar ash flow with small initial velocity, the effect of the heat transfer makes the whole layer of ash flow more compacted together than the corresponding isothermal case.

Pai, S. I.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ambient airborne solids concentrations including volcanic ash at Hanford, Washington sampling sites subsequent to the Mount St. Helens eruption

Airborne solids concentrations were measured on a near daily basis at two Hanford, Washington sites after the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980. These sites are about 211 km east of Mount St. Helens. Collected airborne solids included resuspended volcanic ash plus normal ambient solids. Average airborne solids concentrations were greater at the Hanford meteorological station sampling site which is 24 km northwest of the Horn Rapids dam sampling site. These increased concentrations reflect the sampling site proximity to greater ash fallout depths. Both sites are in low ash fallout areas although the Hanford meteorological station site is closer to the greater ash fallout areas. Airborne solids concentrations were decreased by rain, but airborne solids concentrations rapidly increased as surfaces dried. Airborne concentrations tended to become nearly the same at both sampling sites only for July 12 and 13.

Sehmel, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Optical properties of the ash from El Chichon volcano

The visible wavelength optical properties of the ash from the 1982 El Chichon eruptions are measured using ash samples collected at three surface sites at distances between 12 and 80 km from the volcano. The most distant sample is assumed to be the most representative of the silicate ash injected into the stratosphere. The measured optical properties are presented as a complex refractive index n, while the aerosol absorption is expressed as the imaginary component of the refractive index, n sub IM. Results show that each of these samples exhibited low values of absorption, with n sub IM at 500 nm ranging from 0.0015 for the 12 km sample to 0.001 for the 80 km sample. Based on these measurements, it is estimated that n for the stratospheric silicate ash is given by n = 1.53 - 0.001i.

Patterson, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Engine Damage to a NASA DC-8-72 Airplane From a High-Altitude Encounter With a Diffuse Volcanic Ash Cloud

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) DC-8 airborne sciences research airplane inadvertently flew through a diffuse volcanic ash cloud of the Mt. Hekla volcano in February 2000 during a flight from Edwards Air Force Base (Edwards, California) to Kiruna, Sweden. Although the ash plume was not visible to the flight crew, sensitive research experiments and instruments detected it. In-flight performance checks and postflight visual inspections revealed no damage to the airplane or engine first-stage fan blades; subsequent detailed examination of the engines revealed clogged turbine cooling air passages. The engines were removed and overhauled. This paper presents volcanic ash plume analysis, trajectory from satellites, analysis of ash particles collected in cabin air heat exchanger filters and removed from the engines, and data from onboard instruments and engine conditions.

Grindle, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

The Detection, Characterization and Tracking of Recent Aleutian Island Volcanic Ash Plumes and the Assessment of Their Impact on Aviation

The Aleutian Islands of Alaska are home to a number of major volcanoes which periodically present a significant hazard to aviation. During summer of 2008, the Okmok and Kasatochi volcanoes experienced moderate eruptive events. These were followed a dramatic, major eruption of Mount Redoubt in late March 2009. The Redoubt case is extensively covered in this paper. Volcanic ash and SO2 from each of these eruptions dispersed throughout the atmosphere. This created the potential for major problems for air traffic near the ash dispersions and at significant distances downwind. The NASA Applied Sciences Weather Program implements a wide variety of research projects to develop volcanic ash detection, characterization and tracking applications for NASA Earth Observing System and NOAA GOES and POES satellites. Chemistry applications using NASA AURA satellite Ozone Monitoring System (OMI) retrievals produced SO2 measurements to trace the dispersion of volcanic aerosol. This work was complimented by advanced multi-channel imager applications for the discrimination and height assignment of volcanic ash using NASA MODIS and NOAA GOES and POES imager data. Instruments similar to MODIS and OMI are scheduled for operational deployment on NPOESS. In addition, the NASA Calipso satellite provided highly accurate measurements of aerosol height and dispersion for the calibration and validation of these algorithms and for corroborative research studies. All of this work shortens the lead time for transition to operations and ensures that research satellite data and applications are operationally relevant and utilized quickly after the deployment of operational satellite systems. Introduction

Murray, John J.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Microstructural and compositional change of NaOH-activated high calcium fly ash by incorporating Na-aluminate and co-existence of geopolymeric gel and C-S-H(I)

This study explores the reaction products of alkali-activated Class C fly ash-based aluminosilicate samples by means of high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction (HSXRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and compressive strength tests to investigate how the readily available aluminum affects the reaction. Class C fly ash-based aluminosilicate raw materials were prepared by incorporating Na-aluminate into the original fly ashes, then alkali-activated by 10 M NaOH solution. Incorporating Na-aluminate reduced the compressive strength of samples, with the reduction magnitude relatively constant regardless of length of curing period. The HSXRD provides evidence of the co-existence of C-S-H with geopolymeric gels and strongly suggests that the C-S-H formed in the current system is C-S-H(I). The back-scattered electron images suggest that the C-S-H(I) phase exists as small grains in a finely intermixed form with geopolymeric gels. Despite providing extra source of aluminum, adding Na-aluminate to the mixes did not decrease the Si/Al ratio of the geopolymeric gel.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Neutron Gamma-Method for Monitoring Ash Content of Coal

A brief analysis is given of the modern instrumental methods of monitoring the ash content of coal. Their particulars and drawbacks are examined. A neutron gamma-method of monitoring the ash content is proposed on the basis of integrated use of prompt γ-radiation accompanying inelastic scattering of fast neutrons and radiative capture of thermal neutrons by nuclei of the primary elements comprising the organic and mineral components of coal. The instrumental-methodological parameters of monitoring (sizes of the analyzed samples, energy intervals of the detected gamma radiation) making it possible to the increase the sensitivity of the method with respect to the ash content and to minimize the impact of the variability of the moisture content of coal on its material composition, are optimized. The method has been certified and recommended for representative monitoring of the quality of coarse coal.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Fusibility and sintering characteristics of ash

The temperature characteristics of ash fusibility are studied for a wide range of bituminous and brown coals, lignites, and shales with ratios R{sub B/A} of their alkaline and acid components between 0.03 and 4. Acritical value of R{sub B/A} is found at which the fusion temperatures are minimal. The sintering properties of the ashes are determined by measuring the force required to fracture a cylindrical sample. It is found that the strength of the samples increases sharply at certain temperatures. The alkali metal content of the ashes has a strong effect on their sintering characteristics.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2018

Investigation of the Carbochlorination Mechanism of Mullite from Fly Ash

In this study, the reaction mechanism of mullite carbochlorination was investigated to determine its potential in the use of high-alumina fly ash. Thermodynamic analysis of carbochlorination reduction was conducted to determine the two-stage mechanism of carbochlorination of the system Al{sub 6}Si{sub 2}O{sub 13}-C-Cl{sub 2}. The calculation results agreed well with the experimental results. The maximum chlorination rates of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, SiO{sub 2}, CaO, and TiO{sub 2} were 84.80, 55.96, 75.78, and 76.61 pct, respectively, under the optimum conditions: carbon:alumina molar ratio 3:1, temperature 1000 °C, pellet diameter 8 mm, and an average Cl{sub 2} flow 0.3544 L/min. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the tailings from carbochlorination for 30 minutes mainly consisted of Al{sub 4.59}Si{sub 1.41}O{sub 9.7}, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and SiO{sub 2}. A new SiO{sub 2} phase appeared in the tailings during carbochlorination. The morphology of the tailings after pelletizing carbochlorination was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that under the action of carbon and chlorine, the original stable structure of mullite in the fly ash was destroyed. These findings provide useful information for facilitating the development of a pelletizing carbochlorination method for efficient and clean use of fly ash.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Feasibility of Using Steel Drums for the Confinement of Burned Low-Level Radioactive Waste Ashes

The selection of suitable materials to construct a facility for the final disposal of radioactive wastes (repository) is a challenge in materials science, since these facilities must be designed to provide confinement to the radionuclides for long periods of time. In the case of the low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) repository, the confinement of the species must be guaranteed for more than 300 years. In this context, the evaluation of the proposed materials must be performed under accelerated laboratory tests. One type of LLRW consists of ashes that result from the incineration of solid combustible radioactive waste. In Argentina, one of the proposed projects is to place these ashes inside steel drums and immobilized them by a cementation process. The issue to be resolved is whether the steel drums will undergo internal corrosion depending on the presence of certain deleterious species. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the corrosion susceptibility of steel drums containing simulated cemented incineration ashes. To this purpose, a special type of specimen was designed and the corrosion process was followed up for almost 4 years. It was found that, although the deleterious effect of chloride is undeniable, corrosion rates are not as high as to compromise the integrity of the steel drums for a design period of 300 years.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2016

Utilization of rice husk ash in green natural fiber-reinforced cement composites: Mitigating degradation of sisal fiber

This study aims to explore a novel approach to improve the durability of sisal fiber in cement composites by using by-products of biomass power plant: rice husk ash (RHA). The effects of two RHAs on the fiber's degradation were investigated indirectly by testing flexural behavior of sisal fiber-cement composite beams and directly by means of uniaxial tensile properties, thermal decomposition, crystallinity indices and microstructures of embedded fibers, after exploring up to 30 wetting and drying cycles. Allowing the distinction between pozzolanic activities, the efficiency of RHA was compared with two fly ashes and combinations of two clay minerals (metakaolin and nanoclay) with a cement substitution level of 30 wt.%. The durability of composites was improved considerably by incorporating RHA owing to the mitigation of fiber's degradation: the ultimate tensile strength and cellulose fraction of embedded fibers were improved by 384% and 45%, respectively. Fine RHA and the combination of metakaolin and nanoclay yield similar efficiency in mitigating degradation of sisal fiber, and are better than the coarse RHA and fly ashes. The correlations between cement hydration and sisal fiber degradation were analyzed. The results indicate that degree of hydration, calcium hydroxide content and alkalinity of the cement matrix play decisive roles in alkali attacks and mineralization of fiber's cell walls.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Detection of rare earth elements in Powder River Basin sub-bituminous coal ash using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

We reported our preliminary results on the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to analyze the rare earth elements contained in ash samples from Powder River Basin sub-bituminous coal (PRB-coal). We have identified many elements in the lanthanide series (cerium, europium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, terbium, ytterbium) and some elements in the actinide series (actinium, thorium, uranium, plutonium, berkelium, californium) in the ash samples. In addition, various metals were also seen to present in the ash samples

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Preparation and characterization of a hybrid alkaline binder based on a fly ash with no commercial value

Alkali-activated Portland fly ash cement (FA/OPC) and alkali activated blast furnace slag-fly ash cement (FA/GBFS) were prepared using 70% of a low quality fly ash (FA). The low quality is associated with a high content of unburned material (loss of ignition of 14.6%). The hybrid cements were activated by the alkaline solution in order to obtain an overall SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio of 5.0 and 6.0 and unique overall Na 2 O/SiO 2 molar ratio of 0.21. The microstructural characterization of the blended pastes generated in the systems showed the coexistence of amorphous gels C-A-S-H and N-A-S-H gels in the hybrid systems. The addition of OPC or GBFS increases the compressive strength (at 28 days of curing) up to 127% compared with the geopolymer systems based only on FA used in this study. The content of silicates soluble also plays an important role in the reaction products and higher SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 lead to obtain higher mechanical performance and denser structure. The results obtained show that these hybrid cements are an effective way for valorization the waste used in this study for the production of high strength and low-carbon footprint cement-type material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sustainable recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from coal and coal ash through urban mining: A Nature Based Solution (NBS) for circular economy

The demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has surged in recent years, driven by their crucial role in various industrial applications and their uneven geological distribution. As a result, urban mining from secondary resources, particularly coal and coal ash, has gained traction as a sustainable solution within a circular economy framework. This study highlights the significant presence of REEs in coal and coal ash, revealing that certain samples contain REE concentrations that rival traditional ores. Notably, coal ash has the potential to yield approximately 312,000 tons of REEs annually, far exceeding global demand. The research delves into advanced techniques for analyzing REEs, including elemental, isotopic, and mineralogical studies. Additionally, it explores innovative extraction methods such as the use of green solvents, nature-based solutions, and bioleaching and biosorption. By leveraging coal and its byproducts as secondary resources, this study underscores the opportunity to reduce dependence on conventional mining, enhancing the sustainability of REE recovery. Here, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to highlight technological advancements and emerging opportunities that can address current challenges in this field.

Circular economy↗
DOE OSTI2016

Characterization of geopolymer fly-ash based foams obtained with the addition of Al powder or H{sub 2}O{sub 2} as foaming agents

Recent innovations in geopolymer technology have led to the development of various different types of geopolymeric products, including highly porous geopolymer-based foams, which are formed by the addition of foaming agents to a geopolymer fly-ash based matrix. These agents decompose, or react with the liquid matrix or oxygen in the matrix, resulting in the release of gases which form pores prior to the hardening of the gel. The hardened structure has good mechanical and thermal properties, and can therefore be used for applications in acoustic panels and in lightweight pre-fabricated components for thermal insulation purposes. This study presents the results of the pore-forming process in the case when two different foaming agents, i.e. aluminium powder amounting to 0.07, 0.13 and 0.20 mass. % and H{sub 2}O{sub 2} amounting to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mass. %, were added to a fly-ash geopolymer matrix. The physical, mechanical, and microstructural properties of the thus obtained foams, and the effects of the type and amount of the added foaming agent, are presented and discussed. Highly porous structures were obtained in the case of both of the investigated foaming agents, with overall porosities up to 59% when aluminium powder was added, and of up 48% when H{sub 2}O{sub 2} was added. In the latter case, when 2% of the H{sub 2}O{sub 2} foaming agent was added, finer pores (with diameters up to 500 μm) occurred in the structure, whereas somewhat larger pores (some had diameters greater than 1 mm) occurred when the same amount of aluminium powder was added. The mechanical properties of the investigated foams depended on their porosity. In the case of highly porous structures a compressive strength of 3.3 MPa was nevertheless achieved for the samples containing 0.2% of aluminium powder, and 3.7 MPa for those containing 2.0% of H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. - Highlights: • Preparation of geopolymer foams based on fly ash with the addition of Al powder or H{sub 2}O{sub 2} as foaming agents • Determination of density, porosity and mechanical properties of such foams • Characterization of foaming process by means of X-ray micro-tomography (μcT)

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗