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By Petr Dvorak, Jana Selucka, Hong Vu, Petra Starkova, Tomas Frydl

Waste, generated during high pressure leaching of lateritic nickel ores, contains about 50% of iron in form of magnetite but high chromium content ( *3%) does not allow its extensive utilization as the raw material for pig iron production in blast furnace. The chromium removal from the waste was carried out by two methods: (1) oxidative alkali roasting with NaOH and/or Na2CO3, followed by water leaching and (2) oxidative leaching in KOH sub-molten salts solutions. The results show that about 90.1% of Cr was removed when the waste was roasted at 900 °C for 3 h with 33.1 wt% of NaOH. The removal of 88.2% of Cr was achieved if the waste was roasted at 900 °C for 3 h with 40 wt% of Na2CO3. The sodium content in the water-leached residues was reduced from 5% to about 0.5% by reaction with CaO in aqueous solutions at 80 °C for 2 h. About 70% of Cr was removed if the waste was leached at 190 °C in 73 wt% KOH for 8 h.

Mar 1, 2017

By Shadia Ikhmayies

ZnO microprisms in thin film form were produced by the low cost spray pyrolysis technique at a substrate temperature of 350 ± 5 °C on glass substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to explore morphology and composition of the films respectively. The films were found to be oxygen rich and contain chlorine. ImageJ software was used to analyze the size of the prisms, where the diameter and length of the microprisms were estimated.

Mar 1, 2017

By Pei-xiao Liu, Han-jie Guo, Yan-xiang Li

The thermodynamic analysis on chromium ore pellets in solid reduction chromium process is carried out, and the result is validated by pre-reduction experiment of cold briquetted chromium ore. Polarization Microscope and SEM are employed to observe microstructure and element composition. The thermodynamic and experimental results reveal the reduction mechanisms at different temperatures in the SRC pre-reduction process.

Mar 1, 2017

By Qingyun Huang, Junyi Xiang, Xuewei Lv, Chenguang Bai

The extraction of vanadium from mechanically activated converter slag was studied in dilute sulfuric acid solution. The effects of roasting and leaching parameters were investigated. The results show that Ca/V mole ratio, roasting temperature, leaching temperature, liquid-solid ratio, and particle size all have significant effects on vanadium leaching efficiency from calcification-roasted converter slag.

Mar 1, 2017

By Duclerc Fernandes Parra, Luis Filipe Carvalho Pedroso Lima, Harumi Otaguro, Washington Luiz Oliani, Hélio Fernando Rodrigues Ferreto, Ademar Benevolo Lugao

The activation of three polyethylenes, the low density, the high density and the linear low density polyethylene, was determined by means of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Storage modulus and tan δ spectra were obtained as a function of the temperature from −60 to 50 °C with a heating rate of 2° min−1 at frequencies of 1, 2 and 5 Hz and measurement strain amplitude of 10−5. In the tan δ spectra, a small peak in the β region of the three polyethylenes was found and substantiated by subtracting the growing exponential background. This procedure was based on a model that associates the dislocation motion on metals under cyclic stress to vibrating strings and considering the same for the polymeric chains. For the determination of the activation energy we have utilized the frequency versus the reciprocal of the absolute temperature peak of the tan δ. The values obtained for the three polyethylenes, the low density, the high density and the linear low density were, 362 ± 12, 266 ± 9 and 197 ± 6 kJ mol−1, respectively, which were compared with those presented in the literature.

Mar 1, 2017

By Jyothi Rajesh Kumar, Jin-Young Lee

21st century is electronic revolution in human lives as well as energy is one of the most significant tasks. Rare earth elements (REEs) occupy a key role in daily life as well as high-tech industrial applications. REEs are one of the energy critical elements; for sustainable growth, it depends on multiple extraction and separation technologies including solvent extraction and ionic liquid-based extraction methods.

Mar 1, 2017

By Yuanbo Zhang, Yingming Chen, Zijian Su, Bingbing Liu, Guanghui Li, Tao Jiang

High calcium type tin, iron-bearing tailing is recognized as one of typically complex iron ore resources in China. A process of magnetizing roasting process followed by magnetic separation was used to utilize the tailings in our previous paper. Under the optimal conditions, qualified magnetic concentrates were obtained and could be used for direct reduced iron production. In this study, the phase transformation of these tailings during the magnetizing roasting process was investigated. And the reaction behavior between calcium oxide and iron oxide was revealed by using XRD, TG-DSC, VSM, etc. The results indicated that calcium ferrite was easily formed under CO–CO2 atmosphere, which has an unfavorable effect on the separation of iron and tin oxides from the tailings.

Mar 1, 2017

By Ali Tabeshian, Ragnhild E. Aune, Reza Beheshti

Today’s lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are found in more than half of the hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the marked, all-electric vehicles, and nearly all consumer electronics. As a result, recycling of LiBs will be a strategic necessity in the near future. In the present study, the feasibility of application of conventional aluminum recycling process (secondary aluminum production) as a suitable process for treatment of LiBs was studied. The overall idea is to recover aluminum, copper and lithium from a mixed waste stream of LiBs and aluminum scrap. A two-stage process, consisting of a preheating step and a melting step, were tested on cell phone batteries mixed with pure aluminum in a ratio 1:10 and the distribution of elements between the metal phase and the slag phase evaluated. The obtained results are compared and discussed based on the thermodynamic calculated by the use of the FactSage™ software version

Mar 1, 2017

By Naixiang Feng, Kun Zhao

This work presents a two-stage aluminothermic reduction process for preparing Ti and Ti-Al alloys using Na2TiF6. Al-Ti master alloy and pure cryolite as co-products could be obtained. After the first stage reduction, the oxygen content of the metal product is reduced, and the second stage produces high-purity titanium or Ti-Al alloys with cryolite and Al-Ti master alloy as recyclable co-products.

Mar 1, 2017

By Sergio N. Monteiro, Artur C. Pereira, Foluke S. Assis, Henry A. Colorado

The fique fiber is an important natural fiber, originally from Colombia where it is used for sacks and crafts while its plant is used to contain slopes. However, few studies were realized with the fiber obtained from the fique plant leaf, its mechanical properties are superior in many aspects in comparison to some other lignocellulosic fibers. This work investigated the toughness behavior of polyester matrix composites reinforced with up to 30% in volume of a fabric made of fique fiber by means of Charpy impact tests. It was found that the addition of fique fabric results in a marked increase in the absorbed energy by the composites. Macroscopic observation of the post-impact specimens and SEM fracture analysis showed that transversal rupture through the fique fabric interface with the polyester matrix is the main mechanism for the remarkable toughness of these composites.

Mar 1, 2017

By Feng-guang Li, Rui Guo, Ju Zhang

Cooling stave is one of the most important equipment of blast furnace for iron making. The heat transfer performance and service life of the cooling stave, to a large extent, determines the efficiency and economy of the iron making process. In this paper, a 3-D heat transfer model of cooling stave was founded by ANSYS based on FEM theory, and the heat transfer characteristics of cooling staves which were made of different materials (cast iron, cast steel and copper) were analyzed. Then, several suggestions on choosing material of cooling staves were given according to the calculation results and the actual working conditions of the cooling staves.

Mar 1, 2017

By S. N. Monteiro, J. Alexandre, L. G. Pedroti, D. P. Santos, B. C. Mendes, A. R. G. Azevedo, G. C. Xavier

The glass cutting industry is responsible for generating large quantities of waste, during the stages of cutting and polishing. The disposal of this material generates a cost to the company, thus looking for ways to repackage it, so there is the possibility of incorporating it into the adhesive mortar. The objective of this work is the characterization of waste and assessment of the properties of these mortars, fresh, and check the possibility of their use. As for the characterization, were carried out particle size testing, density and pozzolanic activity, for the fresh state were performed tests of air content, water retention consistency and entrained particular index. Were incorporated 0,10, 15 and 20% of the amount of sand. The results showed that the material on display ha spotential for use in adhesive mortar, with values within the limits stipulated by Brazilian standards.

Mar 1, 2017

By Pengqi Zhang, Mingcheng Bing, Lixiong Shao, Shuxing Qiu, Qingyun Zhang, Shengfu Zhang

Coal desulfurization has been regarded as an effective pretreatment for clean fuel and less environmental pollution. The microwave irradiation was used to desulfurize the Nantong coal leached with H2O2 and NaOH. The results showed the desulfurization rate of the coal is very low by directly microwave irradiation, while the coal samples leached with H2O2 and NaOH by microwave irradiation could effectively improve the desulfurization rate. The optimum desulfurization conditions were obtained as 10-min irradiation time, 800 W irradiation power, particle size below 74 μm, 1:1 concentration ratio of H2O2:NaOH, in which the desulfurization rate reached 51.14% of the total sulfur content. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra of coals structure before and after treatment have shown the bands in both coals changed slightly except the relative intensity of some absorption ones. It can be found that most of FeS2 and –S–S– functional groups transferred after treatment, while –SH and –S=O– had almost no changing by ATR-FTIR spectra analysis. The structures of coal matrix would not be broken by microwave irradiation in reasonable the reaction conditions.

Mar 1, 2017

By Glenio F. Daniel, Vinícius O. Barbosa, André R. Gomes, Sergio N. Monteiro, Victor B. de Souza, Frederico M. Margem

Nowadays notorious technological growth is encouraging research natural materials in substitution to more usual synthetic ones. One of those initiatives is the vegetable fibers that have been studied for the replacement of glass and carbon fibers. This research addresses broadly the study of the natural fibers mechanics properties, but none study have been made with natural fabrics, such as the pure jute fabric used in Brazil to make ropes and carpets. This work aim to evaluate the mechanical behavior of jute fabric strips with different dimensions to be used as reinforcement into polymeric composites Lots of those fabric strips were subjected to tensile tests in order to obtain the tensile resistance for each strip size. The results obtained during the tests were satisfactory and indicated that 160 × 160 × 1 mm correspond to the best result and the perfect fabric strip for the composite reinforcement.

Mar 1, 2017

By A. Yudiarto, M. Z. Mubarok

At the present paper, synthesis of magnesia from ferronickel smelting slag is discussed. The first stage was extracting magnesium from the slag by leaching in HCl solution. Magnesium extraction of 97% was obtained from the slag leaching with HCl 8 molar, solid:liquid ratio 1:40 (g/ml) and temperature 80 °C after 24 h. Solution purification was performed by adjusting solution’s pH at 95 °C with addition of MgO powder. At pH range range of 3–4, co-dissolved iron was removed as akagenite (b-FeOOH) precipitate. Dissolved nickel precipitation was detected at pH range of 4–6, while dissolved Mg and Al started to precipitate in the forms of pyroaurite (Mg6Fe2CO3(OH)16∙4H2O) and hydrotalcite (Mg6Al2CO3(OH)16∙4H2O) at pH range of 8–9. High purity of brucite (Mg(OH)2) was obtained by Mg precipitation at pH range of 11–12, under stirring speed of 300 rpm and stirring time of 4 h. Calcination of brucite at temperature of 1000 °C completely converted brucite to periclase (MgO) powder after 240 min.

Mar 1, 2017

By Xiaolong Lin, Yuanbo Zhang, Tiancheng Nie, Guanghui Li, Zhizhong Li, Zhiwei Peng, Tao Jiang

The coal-based direct reduction process has gradually become the focus of research concerning direct reduced iron production due to its advantages, including high reduction rate, stable chemical composition, and good metallurgical properties of products. Based on coal-based reduction theory and briquetting technique, this paper reports the use of microwave energy for intensifying the reduction of carbon-containing briquettes mainly consisting of magnetite concentrate and biochar. The heating behaviors of the raw materials show that under the conditions of microwave power of 1250 W, N flow rate of 4 L min −1 and briquetting pressure of 400 N, the briquettes present the highest heating rate. The average heating rate reaches 35.16 °C min −1. When the briquettes are irradiated by microwaves at 1050 °C for 45 min, the metallization degree of the reduced briquettes reaches 93.58%.

Mar 1, 2017

By Zhanjun Wang, Mei Zhang, Zuotai Zhang, Min Guo

In this study, the viscous flow and crystallization behavior of CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–FetO–P2O5–TiO2 steelmaking slags have been investigated over a wide range of temperatures. The results indicated that the viscosity of the slags slightly decreased with increasing TiO2 content. The constructed non-isothermal continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams revealed that the addition of TiO2 lowered the crystallization temperatures. This can mainly be ascribed that the addition of TiO2 promotes the formation of [TiO6]-octahedra units, thereby MgFe2O4–Mg2TiO4 solid solution is formed. Moreover, the decreasing viscosity has a significant effect on the diffusion of ion units, such as Ca2+ and [TiO4]-tetrahedra, from bulk melts to crystal-melt interface. The crystallization of CaTiO3 and CaSiTiO5 was therefore accelerated, which can improve the phosphorus content in P-enriched phase.

Mar 1, 2017

By Geoffrey Brooks, Mehedi Bin Mohammad, M. Akbar Rhamdhani

Molten alkali nitrates are used commercially as thermal storage fluids (HTF) for solar thermal electricity generation. Their range of operation is limited by the thermal stability and this limits the energy (steam-Rankine cycle) efficiency of these processes. In this study, the effect of atmosphere on the thermal stability of nitrates was investigated using simultaneous thermal analysis techniques (STA). The use of oxygen (O2) as a blanket gas was found to delay the decomposition point of the ternary NaNO3–KNO3–LiNO3 (13.23–57.14–29.63 weight ratio) mixture by 55 °C. By which operating range will increase 65 °C more compared to the binary solar salt. Higher heating rates increased the decomposition point but had less effect on premelting and melting properties. Nitrogen monoxide, and O2 evolution after melting indicates concurrent reversible reactions. Similar phenomena were observed for single and binary nitrates. The eutectic melting point of ternary nitrate obtained from the STA agreed well with FactSage eutectic composition prediction.

Mar 1, 2017

By Bowen Li, Jiann-Yang Hwang, Mingsheng He, Huaguang Wang

Kyanite is one of the major high-alumina minerals for producing refractory ceramics. At high temperature, kyanite can be decomposed into mullite and amorphous silica. This change is an irreversible decomposition and provides potentials for fiber reinforcement of ceramic matrix. In this study, kyanite powder was compressed into a cylinder green body of ceramic and heated at 1150–1450 °C.The phase transformation of kyanite and sinterability were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the phase transformation of kyanite started at 1150 °C when rising the temperature. At 1350 °C, kyanite is completely converted into mullite and silica. The compressive strength of the ceramics reached 73.3–134.8 MPa, while the bulk density was 1.95–2.47 g/cm3. The microstructure indicated the correspondence of the compressive strength to mullitization degree of kyanite.

Mar 1, 2017

By Francisco M. S. Garrido, Fabiano A. C. M. Passos, Carla N. Barbato, Karoline K. Ferreira, Danielle C. Castro, Adriana A. S. Felix, Luiz C. Bertolino, Fernanda A. N. G. Silva, Karla M. A. Simões

Cancrinite and sodalite are characterized by high capacity of adsorption due to its porous structure. The aim of this work was to use kaolin from Borborema-Seridó/Brazil as a source of aluminium and silicon to hydrothermal synthesis of sodalite and cancrinite and to evaluate the best conditions to the formation of these phases. Therefore, kaolin was heated at 700 and 900 °C for 2 h in order to transform kaolinite in metakaolin. Thereafter, experiments with the calcined kaolin’s were carried out between 150 and 230 °C for 30–270 min on a stainless steel pressure vessel using NaOH, Na2CO3 and H2O. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electronic microscopy, thermogravimetry, and Zeta potential. The most pure sodalite phase was obtained at 230 °C, with the kaolin/NaOH ratio of 1:1, low concentration of Na2CO3 and smaller time of synthesis (30 min). On the other hand, for the synthesis of cancrinite phase at 230 °C, it was necessary to use kaolin heated at 900 °C, a longer time of synthesis (270 min) and a higher concentration of Na2CO3.

Mar 1, 2017