Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Particle size distribution”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

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

Parametric Study of the Influence of Support Type, Presence of Platinum on Support, and Ionomer Content on the Microstructure of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers

We report Ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) was employed to investigate the effects of carbon support type, the presence of platinum on carbon, and ionomer loading on the microstructure of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) catalyst layers (CLs). Particle size distributions (PSDs), obtained from fitting the measured scattering data were used to interpret the size of carbon aggregates (40–300 nm) and agglomerates (>400 nm) from two-component carbon/ionomer and three-component platinum/carbon/ionomer CLs. Two types of carbon supports were investigated: high surface area carbon (HSC) and Vulcan XC-72. CLs with a range of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer to carbon (I/C) ratios (0.2–1.2) and also with perfluoroimide acid (PFIA) ionomer were studied to evaluate the effect of ionomer on CL microstructure. The carbon type, the presence of platinum, and ionomer loading were all found to significantly impact carbon agglomeration. The extent of Pt/C agglomeration in the CL was found to increase with increasing ionomer and platinum concentration and to decrease with increasing carbon surface area. Platinum electrochemically-active surface area (ECSA) and local oxygen transport resistance (R nF ) were correlated to the CL microstructure to yield relationships affecting electrode performance.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Microstructure Scale Lithium-Ion Battery Modeling: Part II. On In-Plane Heterogeneities and the Mechanisms that Regulate Them

Li-ion batteries performance and degradation are typically modeled at the macroscopic scale, that is neglecting in-plane heterogeneities that can arise from non-uniform electrode microstructures. Herein, a microstructure scale electrochemical model is used to quantify the impact of microstructure heterogeneity on cell performance during fast charging. The model predicts the electrolyte and solid concentration in-plane standard deviation can reach, respectively, ≈200 mol·m −3 and 6–7 kmol·m −3 locally. Further, the intercalation current density in-plane relative standard deviation can reach extremely high values, around 100% in the cathode and well above 100% in the anode graphite. These denote highly non-uniform lithiation rates and material utilization within each slice of the microstructure along the cell thickness. Non-uniform curvatures, at the particle scale (surface roughness) and between particles (size distribution), were found to initiate these in-plane heterogeneities, while an OCP-induced mechanism subsequently regulates them. The present model provides new insights into small length scale heterogeneity impact on battery performance not available with standard macro-scale/P2D modeling.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

An evaluation of size-resolved cloud microphysics scheme numerics for use with radar observations Part II: Condensation and evaporation

Accurate numerical modeling of clouds and precipitation is essential for weather forecasting and climate change research. While size-resolved (bin) cloud microphysics models predict particle size distributions without imposing shapes, results are subject to artificial size distribution broadening owing to numerical diffusion associated with various processes. Whereas Part I of this study addressed collision–coalescence, here we investigate numerical diffusion that occurs in solving condensation and evaporation. In a parcel model framework, all of the numerical schemes examined converge to one solution of condensation and evaporation as the mass grid is refined, and the advection-based schemes are recommended over the reassigning schemes. Including Eulerian vertical advection in a column limits the convergence to some extent, but that limitation occurs at a sufficiently fine mass grid, and the number of iterations in solving vertical advection should be minimized to reduce numerical diffusion. Insubstantial numerical diffusion in solving condensation can be amplified if collision–coalescence is also active, which in turn can be substantially diminished if turbulence effects on collision are incorporated. Here, large-eddy simulations of a drizzling stratocumulus field reveal that changes in moments of Doppler spectra obtained using different mass grids are consistent with those obtained from the simplified framework, and that spectral moments obtained using a mass grid designed to effectively reduce numerical diffusion are generally closer to observations. Notable differences between the simulations and observations still exist, and our results suggest a need to consider whether factors other than numerical diffusion in the fundamental process schemes employed can cause such differences.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Vertical Structure and Ice Production Processes of Shallow Convective Postfrontal Clouds over the Southern Ocean in MARCUS. Part II: Modeling Study

Abstract Part I of this series presented a detailed overview of postfrontal mixed-phase clouds observed during the Measurements of Aerosols, Radiation, and Clouds over the Southern Ocean (MARCUS) field campaign. In Part II, we focus on a multiday (23–26 February 2018) case with the aim of understanding ice production as well as model sensitivity to ice process parameterizations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The control simulation with the Predicted Particle Properties (P3) microphysics scheme underestimates the ice content and overestimates the supercooled liquid water content, contrary to the bias common in global climate models. The simulations targeted at ice production processes show negligible sensitivity to cloud droplet number concentrations. Further, neither increasing ice nuclei particle (INP) concentrations to an unrealistic level nor adjusting it to MARCUS field estimations alone guarantees more ice production in the model. However, the simulated clouds are found to be highly sensitive to the implementation of immersion freezing, the thresholding of condensation/deposition freezing initiation, and the rime splintering process. By increasing immersion freezing of cloud droplets, relaxing thresholds for condensation/deposition freezing, or removing rime splintering thresholds, the model significantly improves its performance in producing ice. The relaxation of the immersion freezing temperature threshold to the observed cloud-top temperature suggests an in-cloud seeder–feeder mechanism. The results of this work call for an increase in observations of INP, especially over the remote Southern Ocean and at relatively high temperatures, and measurements of ice particle size distributions to better constrain ice nucleating processes in models.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
DOE OSTI2021

Exploring the potential benefits of high-efficiency dual-fuel combustion on a heavy-duty multi-cylinder engine for SuperTruck I

In support of the Daimler SuperTruck I team’s 55% brake thermal efficiency (BTE) pathway goal, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory performed an experimental investigation of the potential efficiency and emissions benefits of dual-fuel advanced combustion approaches on a modified heavy-duty 15-L Detroit™ DD15 engine. For this work, a natural gas port fuel injection system with an independent injection control for each cylinder was added to the DD15 engine. For the dual-fuel strategies investigated, 65%–90% of the total fuel energy was supplied through the added port fuel injection natural gas (NG) fueling system. The remaining fuel energy was supplied by one or more direct injections of diesel fuel using the production high pressure diesel fueling system. The production DD15 air handling system and combustion geometry were unmodified for this study. Efficiency and emissions with dual-fuel strategies including both low temperature combustion (LTC) and non-LTC approaches such as dual fuel direct-injection were investigated along with control authority over combustion phasing. Parametric studies of dual-fuel NG/diesel advanced combustion were conducted in order to experimentally investigate the potential of high-efficiency, dual-fuel combustion strategies to improve BTE in a multi-cylinder engine, understand the potential reductions in engine-out emissions, and characterize the range of combustion phasing controllability. Characterization of mode transitions from mixing-controlled diesel pilot ignition to kinetically controlled ignition is presented. Key findings from this study included a reproducible demonstration of BTE approaching 48% at up to a 13-bar brake mean effective pressure with significant reductions in engine-out NOx and soot emissions. Additional results from investigating load transients in dual-fuel mode and initial characterization of particle size distribution during dual-fuel operation are presented.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ultraviolet digital holographic microscopy (DHM) of micron-scale particles from shocked Sn ejecta

A cloud of very fast, O (km/s), and very fine, O (µm), particles may be ejected when a strong shock impacts and possibly melts the free surface of a solid metal. To quantify these dynamics, this work develops an ultraviolet, long-working distance, two-pulse Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) configuration and is the first to replace film recording with digital sensors for this challenging application. A proposed multi-iteration DHM processing algorithm is demonstrated for automated measures of the sizes, velocities, and three-dimensional positions of non-spherical particles. Ejecta as small as 2 µm diameter are successfully tracked, while uncertainty simulations indicate that particle size distributions are accurately quantified for diameters ≥4 µm. These techniques are demonstrated on three explosively driven experiments. Measured ejecta size and velocity statistics are shown to be consistent with prior film-based recording, while also revealing spatial variations in velocities and 3D positions that have yet to be widely investigated. Having eliminated time-consuming analog film processing, the methodologies proposed here are expected to significantly accelerate future experimental investigation of ejecta physics.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Bulk density, grain size, carbon content and isotopes, and nitrogen content of floodplain sediment along the Koyukuk River, Alaska collected in Summer 2018.

The dataset is comprised of grain size, bulk density, carbon and nitrogen content, stable carbon isotopes, and radiocarbon content of soils sampled on the floodplain of the Koyukuk River near Huslia, AK. This dataset was collected to characterize sediment properties and floodplain organic carbon stocks in the discontinuous permafrost floodplain of the Koyukuk River. The data help quantify the flux and storage of sediment and carbon between the Koyukuk River and the surrounding floodplain as the river migrates laterally. The samples were collected in June 27 - July 9, 2018. The soil samples come from a total of 24 locations and were sampled in the upper 490 cm of the river cutbanks, point bars, and floodplain. Samples were analyzed for bulk density, full particle size distribution, nitrogen content and carbon content and isotopes, though not all samples were included in each analysis. An additional 10 samples of floodplain woody debris were measured for radiocarbon content. Data, detailed methods, analyses, and interpretations were previously published at: Douglas, M. M., Lingappa, U. F., Lamb, M. P., Rowland, J. C., West, A. J., Li, G., et al. (2021). Impact of river channel lateral migration on microbial communities across a discontinuous permafrost floodplain. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87(20), AEM.01339-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01339-21 Douglas, M. M., Li, G. K., Fischer, W. W., Rowland, J. C., Kemeny, P. C., West, A. J., et al. (2022). Organic carbon burial by river meandering partially offsets bank erosion carbon fluxes in a discontinuous permafrost floodplain. Earth Surface Dynamics, 10(3), 421–435. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-421-2022 The dataset is comprised of a total of three separate data files based on the sample type and analysis, including a file that lists the sample locations, permafrost presence, and geomorphic landform.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Association between soil organic carbon and calcium in acidic grassland soils from Point Reyes National Seashore, CA

All data is collected from across 3 soil cores spanning a pH gradient at Point Reyes National Seashore, as part of a recent publication. The bulk data csv includes hygroscopic moisture content, soil pH, total C and N values, particle size distributions, cation exchange capacity and extractable cations. The STXM data package includes raw spectra data from scanning transmission X-ray microscopy C near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy analysis, extracted from STXM Image Reader analysis and then subsequently normalised in Athena (see details in paper). The data file also contains a bulk chemistry and mineralogy dataset, including total and trace element contents from 3 depths and mineral compositions as measured at BL 11-3 SSRL and semi-quantified in HighScore. Finally the final data file is calcium K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (BL 4-3) and micro-XANES and micro-X-ray fluorescence (BL 14-3b) data.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

TEMPEST3 surface runoff water chemistry and organic matter composition

Coastal flooding, driven by storm surges and sea level rise, can mobilize organic matter (OM) via runoff, while introducing compositionally distinct OM (e.g., estuarine OM) into the system. To understand event-scale OM dynamics, we monitored source waters and surface runoff during an ecosystem-scale field manipulation experiment, TEMPEST (Terrestrial Ecosystem Manipulation to Probe the Effects of Storm Treatments), in June 2024. The TEMPEST experiment is part of the COMPASS-FME (Coastal Observations, Mechanisms, and Predictions Across Systems and Scales – Field, Measurements, and Experiments) project and designed to investigate biogeochemical and ecological impacts of freshwater and seawater flooding on coastal terrestrial-aquatic interface ecosystems by simulating freshwater and seawater storm events in two 2000m2 coastal upland forest plots (freshwater and brackish seawater plots). The temporal coverage of this dataset is during the TEMPESTⅢ event (June 11-13, 2024). This dataset contains: - Surface runoff discharge measured by flumes - Sensor data (specific conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature) - Particle size distribution - Total suspended sediment concentrations (TSS), particulate and dissolved organic carbon (POC, DOC) concentrations, total nitrogen and total dissolved nitrogen (TN, TDN) concentrations - Bulk particulate and dissolved OM compositions (stable C and N isotopes of particulates and optical measurements of chromophoric dissolved OM) - High resolution mass spectrometry analysis data - Water isotope data All data files are plain-text CSV (comma-separated value), and no special software is required to read them.

COMPASS-FME↗
DOE OSTI2023

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F US-Lin Lindcove Orange Orchard

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Lin Lindcove Orange Orchard. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Lin Lindcove Orange Orchard produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - The experimental site was a citrus orchard about three km west of the UC Lindcove Research and Experiment Station. The site is characterized by a Mediterranean climate typical of Central California, with warm dry summers and cool wet winters. The soil texture for the upper horizon (0-33 cm) was loam with a particle size distribution of 42% sand, 38% silt, and 20% clay (Kearney Ag Center). Soil pH was 7.4 (Valley Tech Soil Agricultural Laboratory Services). The orchard was drip-irrigated with water applied twice per week in the warm season to ensure water avail- ability close to field capacity. The site was kept clean from understory vegetation and mechanical pruning operations took place twice a year to limit the size ofthe orange trees for harvesting and site maintenance. The block of trees in which the tower and instruments were located was ‘Valencia’ orange on trifoliate rootstock, with a planting date in the 1960’s. The square 4 ha block had dimensions of 200 m NeS and EeW. At the end of the study, we harvested a ‘Valencia’ citrus tree from within the study block to measure citrus leaf area index (LAI) and biomass density. The tree height was 3.7 m as measured with a telescoping pole. We measured canopy radii in the four cardinal directions to calculate a planar area (as seen from above) of 12.2 m2. The mean specific leaf area (SLA) of citrus leaves was 85.4 cm2 g-1 obtained by measuring leaf area of five groups of leaf samples with a LiCor Leaf area meter (mod. LI-3100C) followed by drying and weighing. LAI for the orchard was 3.00, derived using the SLA value and the total dry mass of leaves from the harvested tree, multiplied by the plant population of 237 plants per ha as obtained from spacing measurements and Google Maps imagery.

Fares, Silvano↗
DOE OSTI2020

Conversion of Uranium Metal to Uranyl Sulfate Solution

Experiments involving conversion of uranium (U) metal to U 3 O 8 , followed by dissolution to form uranyl sulfate solution, were performed with batches of up to 300 g of U metal. The focus was to identify major U species formed during the oxidation process, determine the particle size distribution of the uranium oxide product, and identify the size of the dissolution vessel needed to accommodate the exothermic reaction during the conversion of U 3 O 8 to uranyl sulfate using 30% hydrogen peroxide and H 2 SO 4 . The information obtained in this study will be used for designing full-scale processes to convert kilogram quantities of U metal to uranyl sulfate solution with a concentration of 300 g U/L.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2020

Vadose Zone Flow and Transport Parameters Data Package for the Hanford Site Composite Analysis

This report provides a description of the basis for the development and implementation of a conceptual model for vadose zone flow and transport for the Hanford Site composite analysis (CA) groundwater pathway analysis. The parameterization for a numerical model is intimately linked to the conceptual model framework. This report describes the basis for the selection of hydraulic and transport parameters for the hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs) identified in the 200 East and 200 West Areas. The following three-step process was used to develop the hydraulic properties and transport parameters for the CA modeling: 1. Breakdown of existing database on hydraulic properties by HSUs 2. Constitutive model parameters for laboratory, core-scale hydraulic properties 3. Upscaling for macroscopic, field-scale flow, and transport parameters This document provides data and information on the following items: A brief description and technical basis for the conceptual model selected to represent vadose zone flow and transport for the CA modeling. Variation in sediment particle size distribution for representative sites in the 200 East and West Areas. A summary of effective (upscaled) moisture retention, and saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity estimates for the HSUs in the 200 East and West Areas. A summary of effective transport parameters, including sediment bulk density and macrodispersivity estimates for various HSUs. The 200 East Area B Complex perched water aquifer hydraulic properties

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2020

Miniaturized Optical Particle Counter (MOPC) Instrument Handbook

The U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) aerosol counting, composition, extinction, and sizing system (ACCESS) includes a base module (9400), a filter sampler (9401), an advanced mixing condensation particle counter (MCPC, 9403), a miniaturized optical particle counter (mOPC, 9405), and a single-channel tricolor absorption photometer (STAP, 9406). This handbook focuses on the mOPC, which measures the aerosol particle size distribution between 0.19 and 3 μm.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spectral Induced Polarization-Biogeochemical Relationships for Remediation Amendment Monitoring

Geophysical tools such as electrical resistivity (ER) can indirectly monitor subsurface changes in response to remedial injections. These methods exhibit relatively low spatial resolution compared to sediment core characterization but are advantageous due to the ability to collect measurements non-intrusively over time across large volumes of the subsurface. Moreover, along with confirmatory groundwater or core sampling, geophysical methods can be used during active biogeochemical remedies to monitor short-term contaminant transformations and mobility, as well as part of an overall strategy for long-term monitoring of subsurface contaminated sites. The use of alternating current spectral induced polarization (SIP) provides significantly more information than conventional geophysical methods like direct current ER. SIP allows for monitoring changes in both solution and surface conductivity by separation of real and imaginary conductivity, respectively, as well as surface capacitance. In principle, SIP can measure indicators of remedy progression such as precipitation reactions that sequester contaminants, potentially providing a better indication of amendment delivery and reactivity as compared to conventional ER methods. However, multiple processes and material properties have overlapping (interacting) electrical responses across a range of frequencies. Hence, the purpose of this scoping study was to evaluate if SIP can be used to monitor (a) amendment delivery and (b) precipitation and reactivity of amendments under consideration at Hanford. SIP measurements were collected in fully saturated columns packed with sand and Hanford formation sediments containing (a) amendments that were highly conductive with significant capacitance (zero valent iron – ZVI, sulfur modified iron – SMI) and (b) amendments that exhibited low electrical conductivity with a small capacitance (calcite, apatite, bismuth). The sand was a quartz material with homogenous particle size that exhibited a relatively low surface conductivity. It was used as a control for comparison with the sediments from the Hanford Site, which have a greater surface conductivity because of their complex mineralogy and heterogeneous particle size distribution and may have complex interactions with amendments. The amendment mass fraction was varied to represent the different stages and subsurface locations associated with the delivery of a remedy. The primary objective was to identify the solution and solid surface changes associated with the delivery amendments and their secondary reactions within the subsurface. The figure below summarizes results for the amendments tested through this project. The SIP phase shift or imaginary conductivity change for the high conductivity amendments was more than 10 times that of the low conductivity amendments, highlighting the relative ease of detection of ZVI and SMI independent of the background signal from sand or Hanford sediments. The ZVI phase shift and imaginary conductivity changes occur primarily at high frequency (> 100 Hz) whereas SMI changes were at low frequency (0.01 to 10 Hz). SIP signals of SMI also increased over time and the maximum shifted to lower frequencies. The low conductivity amendments (calcite, abiotic and biotic apatite, bismuth subnitrate) exhibited relatively small phase and imaginary conductivity changes when added to sediments. The changes were above minimum detection limits (0.5 mrad for phase shift, 0.03 µS/cm for imaginary conductivity) for the highest concentration except for the commercial bismuth material. The lowest amendment concentration that can be detected is likely sediment specific, as minerals in sediments (clays, magnetite, Fe-oxides) have some capacitance and, therefore, exhibit a variable phase shift.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2021

Portable Filtration Skid

To create a portable filtration skid with the capability to process 500 gallons of wastewater with an unknown particle size distribution.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2022

Elucidating Arsenic and Selenium Speciation in Coal Fly Ashes

Coal fly ash (CFA) is produced during the coal combustion process and contains trace elements (<100 ppm) including selenium (Se) and arsenic (As), both detrimental for environmental and human health. Existing management strategies for CFAs involve disposal in landfills and ash ponds, as well as beneficial usage in other applications such as in concrete. Both the direct disposal and beneficial usage of CFA raise concerns for environmental hazards due to the potential leaching of Se and As. CFAs were classified as reusable material by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the first federal regulation (Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities, CCR) for its disposal established six years ago. During coal combustion process, parameters such as furnace firing type, emissions controls, coal rank, use of additives, and particulate matter controls, could contribute to significant variability in As/Se concentrations and their speciation. Although there have been a handful of studies on As/Se speciation on small sets of samples, they do not fully represent the current state of coal-fired electrical generating units. Little information exists on the detailed speciation (e.g. oxidation state, complexation state) of As/Se in large set of fly ash samples. To better investigate the role of the potential contributing parameters, a large-scale survey study with representative samples of typical coal source and combustion conditions is highly desired. The overall goal of this research is to systematically characterize As and Se speciation of representative coal fly ash samples using state-of-the-art synchrotron based spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, in order to develop a correlation between coal source/type, operation condition, As/Se speciation, and As/Se mobility. A detailed survey study was conducted documenting the current state-of-knowledge on fossil power generating units as a function of coal type/source, operating conditions, environmental control systems, additive use, and fly ash handling methods. Based on this survey, a matrix of fly ash samples representing a range of conditions were chosen and collected. The collected ash samples were analyzed for bulk characteristics such as elemental composition, microstructure, chemical and mineralogical composition, surface area, and particle size distribution. State-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray microscopy and spectroscopy techniques were applied to reveal the molecular scale speciation information of As and Se, such as oxidation state, association with other elements/minerals, and complexation states.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2023

Integrated Design of Ultradurable, Low CO 2 Alternative Binder Systems via Machine Learning

This ARPA-E project developed a machine learning tool to use in formulation design of cementitious binders for concrete having 50% less embodied CO 2 and possessing twice the durability compared to concrete based on ordinary portland cement (OPC) binders. The technical focus was on limestone/calcined clay cement (LC3), the leading replacement for OPC. Here, hierarchical machine learning (HML) was used to model the flowability, set time, strength, and durability of LC3 concrete. This methodology identifies latent variables derived from domain knowledge and empirical models that develop an accurate model for a response surface from small datasets. For the flowability metric, particle packing was a dominant factor, while strength and durability were both strongly determined by the fraction of metakaolin and the water:solids ratio. Under constraints of water:binder ratio, material performance metrics, embodied CO 2 , and cost per tonne of OPC, multi-objective optimization was used to design binders parameterized by the mineral composition replacing OPC, particle size distributions, and water:solids ratio. The trained algorithm was able to predict multiple mixes met these performance criteria, and experimental testing validated the predictions. The model demonstrated here is relevant for North America, where pure kaolin deposits are found broadly. The approach is being taken forward into commercial application by Ansatz AI, a materials informatics company founded by PI Washburn and co-PI Poczos. Through collaborations with the cement and concrete industry, and funding from SBIR programs, a commercial software will be developed in future research.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extraction and Supply (IRENES)

This report presents the physical and chemical characterization of breaker and sorter reject materials sourced from the Prairie State Generation facility, as part of the Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extraction and Supply (IRENES) project. Key analyses include particle size distribution, density, angle of repose, proximate and ultimate composition, mineralogy, and elemental content. Breaker reject material was found to be coarser and higher in ash content (~80%) with lower calorific value, while sorter reject showed finer distribution, lower ash (~68%), and higher carbon and energy content. XRD and XRF analyses confirmed the presence of REE-bearing minerals and relevant oxides, supporting process design and beneficiation strategy development for critical mineral recovery.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗