ABSTRACT
Different gamma radiation interaction parameters has been measured experimentally for the prepared diaspore-flyash concretes at 59.54, 662, 1173 and 1332 keV using narrow-beam transmission geometry and results are found to be in good agreement with theoretical values computed with a computer programme, WinXCom. The radiation exposure rate and absorbed dose rate for the gamma radiation with and without shielding of diaspore-flyash concretes have been determined using linear attenuation results. The results show that on average, there is reduction of 95%, 53% and 40% in dose rate for gamma sources (241)Am, (137)Cs and (60)Co, respectively with diaspore-flyash concretes as shielding material. Other health physics parameters namely equivalent dose, effective dose, gamma flux and energy fluence rate have also been determined.
Subject(s)
Coal Ash/chemistry , Construction Materials/analysis , Gamma Rays , Models, Chemical , Radiation Protection/instrumentation , Absorption, Radiation , Coal Ash/radiation effects , Computer Simulation , Computer-Aided Design , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Materials Testing , Scattering, RadiationABSTRACT
In this paper, the effect of urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP) solution on desulphurization and demineralization of coal with high sulphur and high ash by using HNO3 and microwave pretreatment was investigated. The oxidation process is strongly dependent on irradiation power and time for microwave pretreatment, UHP concentration, leaching time and temperature of the UHP solution. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared technique have been performed for the raw and treated coals. Compared with the UHP alone, successive treatments with HNO3 and microwave pretreatment resulted in the significant removal of total sulphur and mineral matter from the coal. The proposed experimental method has the meaning of practical guide to the desulphurization and deashing of coal by microwave.
Subject(s)
Coal Ash/isolation & purification , Coal/analysis , Coal/radiation effects , Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry , Nitric Acid/chemistry , Sulfur Compounds/isolation & purification , Urea/chemistry , Coal Ash/chemistry , Coal Ash/radiation effects , Hydrogen Peroxide/radiation effects , Microwaves , Nitric Acid/radiation effects , Oxidation-Reduction/radiation effects , Radiation Dosage , Sulfur Compounds/chemistry , Sulfur Compounds/radiation effects , Urea/radiation effectsABSTRACT
The mineralogy, as well as elemental composition, of the incinerated hospital waste (HW) ashes are not well known and need to be investigated for the safe handling and disposal of such ash. A study was conducted to investigate the chemical composition, mineralogy and bioleaching of selected metals from incinerated HW bottom ash using Aspergillus niger under the combined effect ofultrasonic radiation. Different techniques were utilized to determine the elemental composition (Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy [EDX], atomic absorption spectrophotometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible light spectrophotometer) and mineralogy (X-ray Diffraction) of the raw sample, as well as the bioleached samples. Chemical leaching tests were performed to determine the effect of different organic acids on metals dissolution. Microbes were tested for acid production and leaching capabilities of selected metals from medical waste (MW) bottom ash. Wet chemical and EDX analyses showed that the ash was enriched with metallic elements like Na, K, Ca, Fe and Al with a concentration range of 22-115 (g/kg). Furthermore, the ash contained heavy metals such as Cu, Cr, Ni, Sn and Ti in the range of 0.51-21.74 (mg/kg). Citric and oxalic acids generated by fungi could be important leaching agents acting to dissolve these metals. Under ultrasonic treatment, metals dissolution by the acidic metabolites was at its maximum after just 9 d of leaching. The results showed that the dissolution of metals was much higher in citric and oxalic acid than with other acids. Extraction of metals from incinerated MW ash indicated that this ash may be a potential source of metals in the future.
Subject(s)
Aspergillus niger/metabolism , Coal Ash/metabolism , Conservation of Natural Resources/methods , Incineration/methods , Medical Waste Disposal/methods , Metals/isolation & purification , Sonication/methods , Biodegradation, Environmental , Coal Ash/chemistry , Coal Ash/radiation effects , Medical Waste/prevention & control , Metals/chemistryABSTRACT
In this paper the applicability of an in situ ultrasonic diagnostic technique in understanding the formation process of zeolite X with a novel morphology was demonstrated. The complexity of the starting fly ash feedstock demands independent studies of the formation process for each type of zeolite since it is not known whether the crystallization mechanism will always follow the expected reaction pathway. The hierarchical zeolite X was noted to follow a solution phase-mediated crystallization mechanism which differs from earlier studies of the zeolite A formation process from unaged, clear solution extracted from fused fly ash. The use of the in situ ultrasonic monitoring system provided sufficient data points which enabled closer estimation of the time of transition from the nucleation to the crystal growth step. In order to evaluate the effect of temperature on the resulting in situ attenuation signal, synthesis at three higher temperatures (80, 90 and 94 °C) was investigated. It was shown, by the shift of the US-attenuation signal, that faster crystallization occurred when higher temperatures were applied. The novel hierarchical zeolite X was comprised of intergrown disc-like platelets. It was further observed that there was preferential growth of the disc-shaped platelets of zeolite X crystals in one dimension as the synthesis temperature was increased, allowing tailoring of the hierarchical morphology.
