Presented diploma thesis is dealing with study of exciters of anhydrite binders. Theoretical part is dedicated to study of available domestic and foreign literature on a given topic. Attention is also paid to the study of the current research at the institute of THD. In the experimental part is developed a proposal of potential exciters of hydration on the basis of literature and according to the results of the research at the institute of THD. Next is proposed the methodological concept of the work. Testing of the monitored technological features follows. The study of the hydration process was recorded using XRD analysis and thermal analysis. Evaluation of the results was implemented by the mutual comparing of prepared recipes.

The topic of this dissertation was the preparation of a high-quality sulphate binder based on secondary raw materials. For this purpose, the work was primarily focused on the laboratory preparation of beta gypsum from the selected industrial gypsum, the design of the technological process of production and its verification by pilot tests. In the next step, the thesis dealt with the modification of beta gypsum by a selected set of liquefiers. In addition to commercial dehumidifiers, the possible beta casting of beta gypsum was tested by increasing the zeta potential of the gypsum suspension. At the end, a complete complex of construction products was developed based on laboratory and semi-prepared beta plasters, consisting of gypsum plasters, mastics, gypsum premix and small plaster casts.

This Diploma Thesis deals with the research and advancements in the field of sulphate binders, especially the anhydrite binder. The theoretical part of the thesis is dedicated to the fundamentals of sulphate binders and anhydrite binders. Its second part also introduces standard requirements for screed coatings together with technological methods of their application. Practical part of the thesis looks at the research and production of anhydrite binder with special emphasis on self-levelling compounds. Various types of plasticizers were used in these compounds and their effectiveness and final product quality are compared.

The presented work deals with the study of hydration processes anhydrite binders with external exciters. Work is divided into two parts. Conceptually is this work divided into two parts The theoretical part of study contains general theory of gypsum binders, anhydrite binders and research at the institude THD. In the experimental part deals with proposal of recipes, making of samples and subsequent determination of main technological tests and monitoring hydration process by the XRD and DTA analysis.

Les sulfates de calcium sont des matériaux économiques et écologiques. Pourtant leur utilisation dans le domaine de la construction est assez limitée du fait de leur sensibilité à l’eau. La capacité des ciments alumineux (CAC) à diminuer la sensibilité à l’eau des sulfates de calcium ainsi que les mécanismes d’insensibilisation ont été étudiés. L’insensibilisation à l’eau des sulfates de calcium a été réalisée par ajout de faibles quantités de ciment alumineux (≤ 30%). Quatre sulfates de calcium de nature différente : gypse, hémi-hydrate α et β, anhydrite synthétique ont été étudiés. L’étude des mécanismes d’insensibilisation à l’eau des sulfates de calcium par ajout du ciment Fondu, menée à différentes analyses de la microstructure : IR, DRX, ATD-TG, MEB, a mis en évidence deux approches : la formation de l’ettringite insoluble et la formation du gel d’AH3 qui colle les grains de sulfate de calcium soluble. La nature des phases cristallochimiques du ciment alumineux a des influences sur les caractéristiques mécaniques, la sensibilité à l’eau ainsi que la durabilité des mélanges [sulfate de calcium / CAC]. L’étude des mélanges [anhydrite synthétique / laitier / CAC] offrent des perspectives intéressantes notamment concernant le développement des liants à faible empreinte CO2. / Calcium sulphate materials are economical and ecological. But their use in the construction is quite limited because of their sensibility to water. The capacity of aluminate cement (CAC) to decrease the water sensibility of calcium sulphate and the mechanisms of insensibilisation were investigated. Waterproofing of gypsum base materials was carried out by addition of small amounts of aluminate cement (≤ 30%). Different nature of calcium sulphates : gypsum, hemihydrate α and β, synthetic anhydrite was studied. The study of mechanisms of insensibilisation to water of calcium sulphate by adding cement Fondu, with different analysis of microstructure : IR, DRX, ATD-TG, MEB, revealed two approaches : formation of ettringite insoluble and formation of gel AH3 that stick soluble grains of calcium sulphate. The nature of phases of aluminate cement has influences on the mechanical properties, sensibility to water and durability of mixtures [calcium sulphate / CAC]. The studies of mixtures [synthetic anhydrite / slag / CAC] offer interesting perspectives for the development of binders with low imprint CO2.

The transport of components and phases plays a fundamental role in the success of an EOR process. Because many reservoirs have harsh conditions of salinity, temperature and rock heterogeneity, which limit process options, a robust system with flexibility is required. Systematic experimental study of formulations capable to transport surfactant as foam at 94°C, formulated in sea water, is presented. It includes methodology to conduct core floods in sand packs using foaming surfactants and to develop “surfactant blend ratio- salinity ratio maps” using equilibrium phase behavior to determine favorable conditions for oil recovery in such floods. Mathematical model able to reproduce the foam strength behavior observed in sand packs with the formulations studied is presented. Visualization of oil recovery mechanism from matrix is realized using a model system of micro-channels surrounded by glass beads to mimic matrix and fractures respectively. The observations illustrate how components may distribute within the matrix, thereby releasing oil into the fractures. The use of chemicals to minimize adsorption is required when surfactant adsorption is important. The presence of anhydrite may limit the use of sodium carbonate to reduce adsorption of carbonates. A methodology is presented to estimate the amount, if any, of anhydrite present in the reservoir. The method is based on brine software analysis of produced water compositions and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis of core samples. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used to verify the mineralogy of the rock. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to obtain surface composition for comparison with bulk composition of the rock. Adsorption of surfactants was measured using dynamic and static adsorption experiments. Determining the flow properties of the rock samples via tracer analysis permitted the simulation of the dynamic adsorption process using a mathematical model that considers the distribution of adsorbed materials in the three different regions of pore space. Using this method allows one to predict adsorption in a reservoir via simulation.

This diploma thesis deals with influence of modifying additives on achieved properties of anhydrite binders. The first part is focused on funamentals of anhydrite binders. Ist second part introduces anhydrite under-layments and their standard requirements. The experimental part is dedicated to anhydrite binders modyfyied by plasticizers, while their final properties are compared.

Masters of Science / This study was conducted to investigate hydrogeochemical processes controlling the evolution of groundwater chemistry and their influence on water quality in the Heuningnes Catchment. The role or influence of hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater quality in aquifer systems remains poorly understood. One of the ways of improving such understanding is to employ different techniques to explore key processes that govern groundwater quality in aquifer systems. Therefore, the present study investigated hydrogeochemical processes of groundwater resources and identified key processes that explained its quality from a spatiotemporal perspective. The quantitative approach that provides the ability to assess relationships between variables both spatially and temporally was applied. Groundwater sampling was done on four occasions during July 2017, October 2017, March 2018, and July 2018. Identification of hydrogeochemical processes controlling the evolution of groundwater chemistry and quality was done using various complementary tools. These tools included classification of the main water types, evaluation of water-rock interaction by means of stoichiometry analysis and bivariate correlation plots, inverse geochemical modelling, and statistical analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis and factor analysis). Physical parameters were measured in situ, while water samples were collected from boreholes, piezometers, springs, and artesian boreholes for laboratory analysis for major ions analysis. Descriptive and bivariate statistical methods were used to summarise and evaluate the strength of the relationship between variables, while multivariate statistical methods were applied to group similar samples based on their chemical compositions. Tri linear Piper diagrams were generated to characterize water type based on double normalizing the proportions of cations and anions, while correlation and stoichiometric analysis were applied to identify hydrogeochemical processes influencing groundwater chemistry. The results generated from the trilinear Piper diagrams confirmed the dominance of sodium and chloride ions in waters of the Heuningnes Catchment. Groundwater of a Na/Cl type is typical for a coastal aquifer characterised by saline, deep ancient groundwater. The lower parts of the Catchment were characterised by saline groundwater. The results indicated that shallow groundwater samples within the study area were more mineralised as compared to deep groundwater with EC values ranging between 20.8 and 2990 mS/m, with waters within the Table Mountain Group region (TMG), recording the lowest values. Deep groundwater for boreholes and artesian boreholes located upstream in the Catchment was fresh and yielded some of the lowest EC values recorded with an EC value below 50 mS/m. Generally, EC values increased from the upper TMG region of the Catchment towards the Bokkeveld shale region downstream and were highest during the dry season of 2018. The results indicated strong geological influences on water chemistry. Bivariate correlation and stoichiometric analysis identified cation exchange, adsorption, evaporation, weathering of carbonates, sulphates and silicate minerals as processes influencing the chemistry of groundwater in the Heuningnes Catchment. The Saturation Index (SI) results showed a change of calcite, dolomite, aragonite, gypsum, anhydrite, halite, melantinterite, siderite and sylvite from being undersaturated to oversaturated at some areas for the different seasons along the flow path. The mass-balance modelling results indicated that ion exchange and reverse ion exchange processes were more dominant at low elevations along the same flow path during the dry periods. However, at high elevations along the flow path, silicate weathering was the dominant process taking place. The findings of this study demonstrated the influence of hydrogeochemical processes in changing the water chemistry along the flow paths. In conclusion, the study showed the value of utilising various assessment tools as complementary techniques to improve the understanding about hydrogeochemical processes, and its influence on evolution of groundwater chemistry and quality. Based on the findings of the study the following recommendations were made for future studies; the sample points or sample boreholes in the study Catchment should be increased; and to have more sampling trips to enable better comparison between the possible processes

A fundamental theoretical and experimental study on calcium sulphate scale formation in hydrometallurgical solutions containing various minerals was conducted. A new database for the Mixed Solvent Electrolyte (MSE) model of the OLI Systems® software was developed through fitting of existing literature data such as mean activity, heat capacity and solubility data in simple binary and ternary systems. Moreover, a number of experiments were conducted to investigate the chemistry of calcium sulphate hydrates in laterite pressure acid leach (PAL) solutions, containing Al2(SO4)3, MgSO4, NiSO4, H2SO4, and NaCl at 25–250ºC. The database developed, utilized by the MSE model, was shown to accurately predict the solubilities of all calcium sulphate hydrates (and hence, predict scaling potential) in various multicomponent hydrometallurgical solutions including neutralized zinc sulphate leach solutions, nickel sulphate–chloride solutions of the Voisey’s Bay plant, and laterite PAL solutions over a wide temperature range (25–250°C). The stability regions of CaSO4 hydrates (gypsum, hemihydrate and anhydrite) depend on solution conditions, i.e., temperature, pH and concentration of ions present. The transformation between CaSO4 hydrates is one of the common causes of scale formation. A systematic study was carried out to investigate the effect of various parameters including temperature, acidity, seeding, and presence of sulphate/chloride salts on the transformation kinetics. Based on the results obtained, a mechanism for the gypsum–anhydrite transformation below 100°C was proposed. A number of solutions for mitigating calcium sulphate scaling problems throughout the processing circuits were recommended: (1) operating autoclaves under slightly more acidic conditions (~0.3–0.5 M acid); (2) mixing recycled process solutions with seawater; and (3) mixing the recycling stream with carbonate compounds to reject calcium as calcium carbonate. Furthermore, aging process solutions, saturated with gypsum, with anhydrite seeds at moderate temperatures (~80°C) would decrease the calcium content, provided that the solution is slightly acidic.

For the manufacture of gypsum powder applied and checked on its setting, using multiple components. One of the intrinsic components of construction gypsum is the anhydrite, completely dehydrated gypsum, working as inert part. Bayesian networks are one of the tools of industrial management. One of its most important properties is its capacity to self-learning. This research work builds on the improvement of anhydrite calcination process using a rotary kiln direct cooking. The work provide an update as new systems currently used for the manufacture of anhydrite, since in addition to improving process control via control loops more efficient and self-managed, and improvements in levels MES and SCADA provide artificial intelligence elements by applying the above Bayesian networks. / En la fabricación de yeso en polvo, aplicable y controlable en su endurecimiento, se utilizan varios componentes. Uno de los componentes intrínseco del yeso para construcción es la anhidrita o yeso totalmente deshidratado que trabaja como parte inerte. Las redes bayesianas, como sistema experto, son una herramienta de gestión industrial. Una de sus propiedades más importantes es su capacidad de autoaprendizaje. Esta investigación se basará en la mejora del proceso de calcinación de anhidrita usando un horno rotativo de cocción directa. El trabajo aportará como novedad una actualización de los sistemas usados actualmente para la fabricación de anhidrita, ya que aparte de mejorar el control del proceso mediante lazos de control más eficientes y autogestionados, así como la introducción de mejoras en los niveles MES y Scada, aportará una modelización del proceso con elementos de inteligencia artificial mediante la aplicación de dichas redes bayesianas.