Synthesis of belite cement from nano-silica extracted from two rice husk ashes.

Nano-silicas extracted from a pure rice husk ash calcined in the laboratory (RHA) and ash from an impure industrial rice husk waste (BRHA), were used to form belite cement by firing with two different calcium sources (calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate). The nano-silica extracted from RHA was highly reactive due to its high pore volume and low activation energy of dehydration. The formation of belite cement from both nano-silicas was studied by firing with two different calcium sources, Ca(NO3)2 and CaCO3 at 800-1100 °C. Both nano-silicas formed the principal phase in belite cement (larnite or ß-C2S) at temperatures as low as 800 °C, especially with calcium nitrate as the calcium source. Thus, highly impure BRHA is shown to be very suitable as a starting material for the low-temperature production of belite cement, especially in conjunction with calcium nitrate as the calcium source.

Performance of lime-BHA solidified plating sludge in the presence of Na2SiO3 and Na2CO3.

This research investigated the performance of lime-BHA (black rice husk ash) solidified plating sludge with 2 wt% NaO from Na(2)SiO(3) and Na(2)CO(3) at the level of 0, 30 and 50 wt%. The sludge was evaluated for strength development, leachability, solution chemistry and microstructure. The lime-BHA solidified plating sludge with Na(2)SiO(3) and Na(2)CO(3) had higher early strength when compared to the control. The addition of Na(2)SiO(3) and Na(2)CO(3) increased the OH(-) concentration and decreased the Ca(2+) and heavy metal ions in solution after the first minute. The XRD patterns showed that the addition of Na(2)SiO(3) resulted in the formation of calcium silicate hydrates, while the addition of Na(2)CO(3) resulted in CaCO(3). The heavy metals from the plating sludge, especially Zn, were immobilized in calcium zincate and calcium zinc silicate forms for the lime-BHA with and without Na(2)SiO(3) solidified wastes, while samples with Na(2)CO(3) contained Zn that was fixed in the form of CaZnCO(3). The cumulative leaching of Fe, Cr and Zn from the lime-BHA solidified plating sludge decreased significantly when activators were added, especially Na(2)CO(3).

Chromium behavior during cement-production processes: a clinkerization, hydration, and leaching study.

The behavior of chromium during the production of cement clinker, during the hydration of cement and during the leaching of cement mortars was investigated. The microstructures of clinker and mortar properties were investigated using free lime, XRD, SEM/EDS, and TG/DTA techniques. Chromium was found to be incorporated in the clinker phase. The formation of new chromium compounds such as Ca(6)Al(4)Cr(2)O(15), Ca(5)Cr(3)O(12), Ca(5)Cr(2)SiO(12), and CaCr(2)O(7), with chromium oxidation states of +3, +4.6, +5, and +6, respectively, was detected. After the hydration process, additional chromium compounds were identified in the mortar matrix, including Ca(5)(CrO(4))(3)OH, CaCrO(4)·2H(2)O, and Al(2)(OH)(4)CrO(4), with chromium oxidation states of +4.6, +6, and +6, respectively. Additionally, some species of chromium, such as Cr(3+) from Ca(6)Al(4)Cr(2)O(15) and Cr(6+) from CaCr(2)O(7), CaCrO(4)·2H(2)O, and Al(2)(OH)(4)CrO(4), were leached during leaching tests, whereas other species remained in the mortar. The concentrations of chromium that leached from the mortar following U.S. EPA Method 1311 and EA NEN 7375:2004 leaching tests were higher than limits set by the U.S. EPA and the Environment Agency of England and Wales related to hazardous waste disposal in landfills. Thus, waste containing chromium should not be allowed to mix with raw materials in the cement manufacturing process.

Effect of chemical and thermal activations on the properties of rice husk ash-based solidified wastes.

Strength development, leachability and microstructure of heavy metals from the solidified waste using synthesis rice husk ash (sRHA) and lime blended at the weight ratio of 1:1 were used as binders. The heavy metal-containing sludge was used at the level of 0 wt.%, 30 wt.%, and 50 wt.% dry weight, respectively. The sample specimens with and without 1.5 wt.% of sodium silicate (SiO2/Na2O = 1.0) were cured under the ambient condition and elevated temperature curing at 50 degrees C for 24 hr. Experimental results showed that the introduction of sodium silicate solution and elevated temperature curing to sRHA-based solidified waste containing 30 wt.% of heavy metal sludge gave one day strength of 20 kg/cm2 compared to 0.9 kg/cm2 for the control sample. XRD patterns indicated that most metal-sulfides present in the sludge were appeared in the solidified waste and SEM coupled with EDX techniques reveal these metal-sulfide particles were trapped within the lime-sRHA matrices. In addition, cumulative leaching behavior by tank test (EA NEN 7375:2004) showed that solidified waste containing up to 30 wt.% of heavy metal sludge was suitable to dispose in a secured landfill.