Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In excess of24 x 106 tons (1997, Eskom) of coal-derived fly ash is produced annually in South Africa for the production of electric power. A large quantity of this ash is disposed of as a solid waste in landfills, thus posing a serious environmental problem. Due to the shortage of landfill sites, new ways of utilising fly ash are needed. Recently several authors have shown that various combustion fly ashes can be converted into zeolites to obtain industrial products with applicability In environmental management. Geopolymerisation has emerged during the last few years as a possible solution to some waste stabilisation and solidification problems. Phenolic compounds have been shown to be toxic to soil microorganisms at the partsper- million level. Indeed several of the organic compounds classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as priority pollutants, are phenols. Immobilisation of phenols by adsorption on zeolites and encapsulation in a geopolymer appears to be a promising solution to this problem. This thesis reports a technique for the production of a low-silica sodium zeolitic material from fly ash (zeolite NaP1), and its application for the stabilisation of phenols by adsorption and subsequent encapsulation in a geopolymer matrix. A commercial zeolite, clinoptilolite was also utilised as an adsorbent. Due to their uniform pore sizes and large surface areas, zeoli tic materials are suitable for ion exchange and adsorption of certain organic substances. Adsorption data show that the commercial zeolite, clinoptilolite was an effective adsorbent for organics. Adsorption data showed that between 51.2ppm and 74.3ppm of chlorophenol or between 15.4ppm and 32.5ppm of phenol could be adsorbed. Physical encapsulation of the coated zeolite loaded with organic within a geopolyrneric matrix increased the compressive strength of the matrix from 28.80 kN to 40.79 kN. Leaching data for the various geopolymer matrices with encapsulated and loaded zeolites show no organics being leached from the system at a detection level of 2ppm. According to the SABS these would have been acceptable organic concentrations within a waste water stream. In utilising waste materials (fly ash and organic waste) and their reactive properties, it is now possible to create various geopolyrners that are not only strong enough to be used as constructionlbuilding materials, but are also effective immobilisation systems for organic waste containment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Meer as 24 x 106 tons (1997, Eskom) vlieg-as word jaarliks deur die verbranding van steenkool vir die produksie van elektrisiteit geproduseer. Die as, wat tans in groot hoeveelhede as soliede afval in vaste-afval stortingsterreine gestort word, word gesien as 'n groeiende omgewingsprobleem. 'n Tekort aan geskikte stortingsterreine maak die ontwikkeling van nuwe gebruike vir die vlieg-as dringend nodsaaklik. Geopolimerisasie van vlieg-as materiale, 'n proses wat die laaste paar jaar ontwikkel is, blyk 'n potensiele oplossing te wees vir sommige afval stabilisering en solidifikasie toepassings. Daar is bewyse dat fenoliese verbindings, selfs op 'n dele per miljoene (dpm) vlak, toksies is vir grondorganismes. Verskeie van die komponente wat deur die Amerikaanse Omgewingsbeskermingsagentskap (US EPA) as prioritats kontaminants geklassifiseer is, is ondermeer fenole. Die huidige werk ondersoek die adsorbsie van fenol op zeoliet NaPI en clinoptiloliet, gevolg deur fisiese omsluiting deur geopolimerisasie. Verskeie outeurs het onlangs verwys na die omsetting van verskeie verbrandings vlieg-asse na zeoliete om bruikbare industriele produkte (vir gebruik in die omgewingsveld) te vorm. Die tesis rapporteer 'n metode vir die produksie van 'n iae silika natrium zeolitiese material (zeoliet NaP!) uit vlieg-as en die gebruik daarvan in die stabilisering van fenole. 'n Kommersieel beskikbare zeoliet, clinoptiioliet, is ook gebruik as adsorbent. Uniforme porie groottes en hoe oppervlak areas maak zeolitiese materiale geskik vir ioonuitruiling, asook die adsorbsie van verskeie orgamese verbindings. Deur die fisiese omsluiting van die zeolitiese materiaal binne 'n geopolimeer matriks, kan materiale met beduidend hoe druksterktes, geproduseer word. Adsorbsie data het getoon data die kornmersiele zeoliet, klinoptilotiet, 'n effektiewe adsorbent vir organiese stowwe is. Adsorbsie waardes het gewissel tussen 51.2dpm tot 74.3dpm vir chlorofenol en 15.4dpm tot 32.5dpm vir fenol. Fisiese enkalsulering van die bebandelde zeoliet (coated fzeo) binne 'n geopolimeer matriks het die saamdrukbaarheidsterkte van die betrokke matriks verhoog van 28.80 kN to 40.79 kN. Logingsdata verkry vir die onderskeie geopolimeer matrikse het getoon dat geen van die organiese stowwe uit die matrikse vrygestel word nie. Indien die organiese stowwe wel vrygestel sou word, sou die waterfase konsentrasie onder 2 dpm, binne die aanvaarbare spesifikasie vir uitvloeisels volgens die SABS standard, gewees het. Verskeie geopolimere, wat nie slegs sterk genoeg is om as konstruksie materiale te dien nie, maar addisioneel effektief as immobilisasie medium dien, kan dus uit die reaktiewe eienskappe van afval materiale (vlieg-as en organiese afval) vervaardig word.

Prior to the implementation of the European Union Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) in 31 Dec 1998, around a quarter of the sewage sludge produced in the UK was either discharged to surface waters via pipes or disposed from ships at sea. Discontinuing this route together with the quality requirements of the European Waste Water Directive, led to the generation of significant quantities of sewage sludge. It has therefore become required to treat this waste effectively before it can be sent back to the environment. Consequently, this added greater challenges for the environmental agencies, as well as local authorities. The treatment process comprises costly and energy consuming applications including physical, chemical, biological and thermal. In addition to the sewage sludge, the power generation industry produces massive quantities of fly ash from burning coal. In the UK, there is about 5,300,000 tonnes of fly ash that are generated annually, which require to be processed and classified in order to meet the standard requirements before it can be used in the construction applications. The classifying process also involves a series of costly and energy consuming mechanical and physical applications. This research programme has introduced an innovative alternative to the traditional re-use and disposal routes of Raw Sewage Sludge (RSS) and unprocessed fly ash. It has suggested the utilisation of RSS and unprocessed fly ash as raw ingredients for the production of sustainable construction materials. This research programme has therefore examined the performance of cement-based materials containing Raw Sewage Sludge (RSS) as a water replacement and unprocessed fly ash as cement replacement. Mortar and concrete mixes incorporating these materials were tested for their flowability/workability, density, Total Water Absorption (TWA), Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV), compressive strength, flexural strength, drying shrinkage, sulphate attack and leaching properties. Three series of cement-based materials were studied including mortar mixes with RSS and unprocessed fly ash (Series 1), mortar mixes with RSS and large proportions of unprocessed fly ash (Series 2), and concrete mixes with RSS and unprocessed fly ash (Series 3). The outcomes of the investigation were encouraging in that cement-based materials containing RSS and unprocessed fly ash that were produced demonstrated relatively good engineering, durability and environmental properties in comparison to the control mixes. The inclusion of unprocessed fly ash significantly reduced flowability/workability; however it improved long-term compressive strength for both mixes with RSS and water. The best compressive strength results were recorded when cement was replaced with 10-20% unprocessed fly ash by weight of total binder. The results also showed that sulphate attack resistance improved when fly ash was included. Moreover, safe concentration levels of heavy metals and free ions were detected when leaching test was performed. However, it must be kept in mind that more environmental tests must be performed before any large scale use is undertaken.

Previous studies from laboratory experiments and a similar process at a plant in Switzerland, led to the pilot plant project at Renova AB, which will be described in this master thesis. In cooperation with Götaverken Miljö AB it was investigated if fly ash, produced at the Renova Waste-to-Energy plant in Gothenburg, could be treated with own scrubber liquids in order to recover zinc. If successful, Renova might build this tested pilot process in to a big scale. The pilot plant has a scale of 16 times smaller than a future big scale process. The goal of the project is to leach zinc from fly ash and gain a fly ash residue, which is classified as non-hazardous waste. The filtrate from the leaching campaign is treated so that the containing zinc is recovered. The zinc cake end product shall has a quality so that it can be sold to other industries or upgraded to high purity zinc metal. The evaluation of the experiments showed that the pilot plant process was successful. It was possible to leach out zinc by a maximum quote of 74%. The total recovery of zinc could be achieved by a maximum of 72%. The final zinc cake product was achieved through a precipitation and filtration campaign. This thesis evaluates, which process set-ups for zinc recovery through leaching and precipitation & filtration are the best and can be recommended for a big scale process. In addition, it briefly analyses the zinc product quality. Future studies will be necessary within: cost analysis of the process, zinc product quality and an analysis of the ash residue.

No description available.

Masters of Science / Eskom supplies to 95% of South Africa’s energy needs and it primarily comes from coal combustion at their coal–fired power stations. Large volumes of fly ash are generated at these coal-fired power stations as a by-product of the coal combustion process. Fly ash is disposed onto landfills at the respective power stations and these landfills are currently running out of storage space. Subsequently, there are concerning environmental impacts upon the natural water environment resulting from coal mining. More specifically, the discharge of acid mine (AMD) water from historical coal mines impact negatively on the water quality in the nearby rivers and dams in the Witbank area. Therefore, as a consequence of the limited space at fly ash landfills, Eskom has embarked on finding alternative ways to re-use fly ash in different applications such as: soil amelioration and land reclamation, road construction as well as brick and cement development. This study focussed on the feasibility of disposing fly ash into the backfill of historical and future coal mines with the intention to firstly reduce fly ash disposal at existing landfills and secondly to improve the decant water quality of the coal mines in the Witbank area. Globally, fly ash has been successfully used in mine backfilling and AMD treatment in countries such as United States of America and India, due to cementitious properties of their fly ash. However, there is limited knowledge on how South African fly ash would behave under backfilled conditions of opencast coal mines where it will be exposed to acidic water environments. This is due to the fact that South African fly ash is considered a Level 3 type hazardous waste, due to its heavy metal concentrations. This waste classification is unique and the strictest compared to global classifications and these methodologies specify that fly ash should be disposed onto lined waste disposal sites due to the potential leaching of heavy metals from these waste sites. It is important to understand the hydrogeological and hydro-geochemical properties of fly ash over time once it is exposed to acid mine water. Field and laboratory tests were conducted to understand these hydrogeological and hydro-geochemical properties of fly ash. Falling head hydraulic tests were conducted at two existing ash landfill sites to determine the hydraulic conductivity (K) of ash of different age. The results exhibit a decreasing trend in K with increasing age. This is due to the pozzolanic nature of fly ash and secondary mineralization of gypsum which causes the fly ash to harden in the presence of water from irrigation for dust suppression together with precipitation over time. Laboratory testing included the use of constant head Darcy column tests to determine the change in K and geochemical properties of the leachate over time. Natural AMD with a pH of 2.5 and a metal composition was used as influent and the leachate were routinely collected and analysed for metal concentrations. The hydraulic conductivity of the fly ash showed a decreasing trend over time. During the placement of coal ash, the moisture allows pozzolanic reactions to solidify the coal ash and lowers the K, towards 10-1 m/d, relative to fresh ash. Secondary mineralization of calcium minerals, in the coal ash contributes to a further decrease in the K, by another order of magnitude from 10-1 m/d towards 10-2 m/d. Sulphate and iron minerals from the AMD also played a major role in the decreasing K as they accumulate in void spaces and having a clogging effect, decreasing the K to 10-3 m/d. The alkaline nature of the coal ash initially neutralizes the acidic levels of AMD from an inflow pH = 2.5 to an outflow pH = 11. Acidification of the outflow towards a pH = 4 was observed, due to large volumes of AMD (>80 000 mL) flowing through short coal ash columns. The K decreased to 3 orders of magnitude, from an initial 10-1 m/d to 10-3 m/d, with the AMD iron (>150 mg/L) and sulphate concentration (>2000 mg/L) playing the dominant role in reducing the hydraulic conductivity. From the geochemical leach test results, it was observed that most of the leachate water was of a better quality than the influent AMD water quality. The outflow pH (pH = 11 to pH = 4) was higher than the pH of the inflow AMD (pH = 2.5). Overall EC reduced in discharge compared to inflow AMD (ECinflow: 535 – 545 mS/m versus ECoutflow: 350 – 490 mS/m), although Na and K in the leachate exhibited higher concentrations (10+2 mg/L) compared to the AMD inflow concentrations (10+1 mg/L). However, most of the other chemical elemental concentrations such as Fe (10-2 – 10+1 mg/L), Si (10-2 – 100 mg/L), Al (10-2 – 10+1 mg/L), Mn (10-2 – 10+1 mg/L), Cr (10-3 – 100 g/L) and SO4 (10+2 – 1+3 mg/L) in the discharge showed lower concentrations when compared to the inflow Fe (10+2 mg/L), Si (100 mg/L), Al (10+1 mg/L), Mn (10+1 mg/L), Cr (10-2 mg/L) and SO4 (10+3 mg/L) concentrations. These results show how fly ash backfill may impact on the current coal mining environment. Overall, the laboratory hydraulic conductivity and geochemical testing showed promising results for fly ash backfilling. Based on this research, fly ash can be used to alter the existing coal mining environment as it is currently known in the Witbank area. The topography, hydraulic conductivity and the water table within the backfill can be altered to improve decant water quality of ash backfilled coal mines.

La nécessité de construire de manière durable, rationnelle et écologique incite à l’innovation et la recherche d’alternatives, telles que la géopolymérisation et l’activation alcaline, qui suscitent un intérêt croissant. Dans ce sens, ces technologies permettent de valorise rdes matières premières à plus faible impact environnemental pour le développement d’une nouvelle famille de matériaux. Cependant, ces mécanismes réactionnels sont complexes et il est encore nécessaire de lever plusieurs verrous avant leur implémentation : la confusion entre les deux processus, l’absence d’approches de formulation rationnelles, la méconnaissance de certaines vulnérabilités, etc. La thèse s’intègre dans cette dynamique et a pour objectif une meilleure connaissance des géopolymères et des matériaux alcali-activés. Le cadre de travail est le développement de coulis d’injection. Un programme expérimental basé sur une sélection de compositions est établi afin de caractériser leurs principales propriétés. Les différences entre les deux processus de structuration sont relevées à travers une étude physico-chimique (DRX, RMN) et liées aux évolutions macroscopiques au jeune âge. Un travail d’optimisation de formulation est mené afin de répondre à des critères d’application et définir les paramètres influençant le comportement rhéologique et mécanique des coulis. Une méthodologie basée sur l’analyse micromécanique et l’homogénéisation multi-échelles a permis d’évaluer le module élastique des matériaux et peut servir de plateforme pour une analyse globale du comportement mécanique. Enfin, une étude de la durabilité est entamée en évaluant la sensibilité au séchage et à la lixiviation en milieu acide. / The need for more durable, rational and ecological constructions encourages innovation and the search for alternatives, such as geopolymerization and alkali-activation, with a growing interest. These technologies allow the use of resources with a lower environmental impact in developing a new class of materials. However, both reaction mechanisms are complex and some issues need further investigation before a proper implementation: the confusion between these processes, the absence of a rational design approach, the lack of knowledge concerning some mechanisms of degradation, etc. The present thesis joins this dynamic and aims at a better understanding of geopolymers and alkali activated materials to design soil injection grouts. An experimental program has been established based on selected mix designs to study their main properties. The differences between both structuration processes were determined through a physicochemical study (XRD, NMR). They were correlated to the macroscopic phenomena observed at early age. An optimization of the mixtures was carried to satisfy the application criteria and define the parameters controlling the rheological and mechanical behavior of the grouts. Using a micromechanical characterization and multiscale homogenization, a methodology has been designed to determine the elastic modulus of the materials.This can be used as a first tool to analyze the global mechanical behavior. Finally, the sensitivity to drying and exposure to acid environments was assessed.

This paper presents the comparison of shrinkage and corrosion characteristics of optimized hybrid Rice Husk Ash (RHA)/Fly Ash (FA)-modified Concrete, with those of normal concrete in the marine environment. Uses of both FA and RHA have numerous environmental benefits. Shrinkage performance was determined by subjecting the mixes to restrained shrinkage testing per ASTM C1581. The time to cracking of the specimens improved an average of 18% with the hybrid mixes. Corrosion testing of reinforced columns was performed in a simulated tidal cycle Marine Environment. Corrosion potential improved by as much as 35% for the mix with the highest FA/RHA replacement, and corrosion activity as measured with potentiostat equipment improved by an average of 34% . These results indicate a clear performance improvement of the modified concrete that is proportional to the percent replacement of cement. / by Diana Arboleda. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010 / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

As indústrias lançam diversos poluentes no meio ambiente. Dentre os poluentes destacam-se os elementos tóxicos presentes em efluentes líquidos por acarretarem alto risco potencial à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente. Os efluentes podem ser tratados por materiais adsorventes, os quais podem ser provindos de resíduos industriais. Uma forma de contribuir significativamente na sustentabilidade de uma indústria é a transformação de um de seus resíduos em sub-produto de valor agregado para aplicação no tratamento de seus efluentes líquidos como adsorvente de baixo custo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi sintetizar, e caracterizar zeólitas de cinzas de carvão e avaliar sua aplicação como material adsorvente no tratamento de efluente. Os materiais zeolíticos derivados de três tipos diferentes de cinzas de carvão (cinzas manga, cinzas ciclone e cinzas pesadas) geradas na usina termelétrica de Figueira-PR foram usados para tratar o lixiviado do aterro de cinzas de carvão da mesma usina. As seguintes características das zeólitas foram determinadas: composição mineralógica, composição química, teor de carbono total, análise morfológica, área superficial específica, capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC), perda ao fogo, pH, condutividade e densidade aparente. A fase zeolítica formada foi do tipo sodalita com as três amostras usadas como matéria prima após ativação hidrotérmica alcalina. O material zeolítico de cinzas manga apresentou a menor relação SiO2/Al2O3 (1,46), maior CTC (2,36 meq g-1) e área superficial específica (69,5 m2 g-1) e, consequentemente, maior capacidade de remoção dos íons do efluente. As concentrações de As e Cr estavam acima do padrão de lançamento de efluentes. As três amostras de materiais zeolíticos apresentaram uma remoção significativa de Ni, Cd, Zn e Co na dose de 10 g.L-1. Os materiais zeolíticos das cinzas manga e ciclone foram eficientes para reduzir a concentração de As abaixo do limite imposto pela legislação, enquanto a remoção do Cr não foi efetiva com nenhum dos materiais. Na segunda etapa do trabalho, as zeólitas foram modificadas com o surfactante brometo de hexadeciltrimetilamônio (HTDMA-Br) em concentrações de 1,8 e 20 mmol L-1. A modificação das zeólitas não melhorou a eficiência de remoção do As. A remoção do Cr usando a amostra de zeólita de cinzas manga modificada com HDTMA-Br 20 mmol L-1 resultou em uma concentração final muito próxima ao limite permitido pela legislação. / The industries release various types of pollutants into to the environment. Among these pollutants are the liquid effluents containing toxic elements, they carry a high potential risk to human health and the environment. Some effluents can be treated by adsorbent materials, which can be made from industrial waste. One way to contribute significantly to the sustainability of an industry is to transform one of its residues into a value-added by-product and use in the treatment of its own liquid effluents as a low cost adsorbent. The objective of this estudy was to synthesize and characterize coal ash zeolites and evaluate their application as adsorbent material in the treatment of effluent. Zeolite materials derived from three different types of coal ash (fly ashes, cyclone ashes and heavy ashes) generated at the Figueira-PR thermoelectric plant were used to treat leachate from the coal ash landfill of the same plant. The following zeolite characteristics were determined: mineralogical composition, chemical composition, total carbon content, morphological analysis, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity (CTC), fire loss, pH, conductivity and bulk density. The zeolite phase formed with the three samples used as raw material after alkaline hydrothermal activation was sodalite. The zeolite material from fly ash had the lowest SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (1.46), higher CTC (2.36 meq g-1) and specific surface area (69.5 m2 g-1) and, consequently, greater effluent removal capacity. The As and Cr concentrations were above the effluent discharge standard. The three samples of zeolitic materials showed a significant removal of Ni, Cd, Zn and Co in the dose of 10 g L-1. The zeolite materials from fly and cyclone ash were efficient to reduce As concentrations below the limit imposed by legislation, while removal of Cr was not effective with any of the materials. In the second stage of the study, the zeolites were modified with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTDMA-Br) in concentrations of 1.8 and 20 mmol.L-1. The zeolite removal efficiency of As did not improve after its modification. Removal of Cr using the 20 mmol.L-1 modified HDTMA-Br modified fly ash zeolite sample resulted in a final concentration very close to the limit allowed by the legislation.

No presente estudo obteve-se com sucesso o compósito zeólita:magnetita usando-se como material de partida sulfato ferroso para síntese da magnetita e cinzas leves de carvão para síntese da fase zeolítica. A zeólita foi sintetizada por tratamento hidrotérmico alcalino e as nanopartículas de magnetita foram obtidas pela precipitação de íons Fe2+ em uma solução alcalina. Uma reprodutibilidade foi alcançada na preparação de diferentes amostras do nanocompósito zeolítico. O material foi caracterizado pelas técnicas de espectrometria de Infravermelho, difratometria de raios-X de pó, fluorescência de raios-X, microscopia eletrônica de varredura com a técnica de EDS, massa especifícia e área específica e por outras propriedades físico-químicas. O compósito era constituído pelas fases zeolíticas hidroxisodalita e NaP1, magnetita, quartzo e mulita das cinzas remanescentes do tratamento alcalino e magnetita incorporada na sua estrutura. A capacidade de remoção de U(VI) de soluções aquosas sobre o compósito zeólita:magnetita foi avaliada pela técnica descontínua. Os efeitos do tempo de contato e da concentração inicial do adsorbato sobre a adsorção foram avaliados. Determinou-se o tempo de equilíbrio do sistema e foram avaliados os modelos cinéticos de pseudo-primeira ordem, pseudo-segunda ordem e o modelo de difusão intrapartícula. Um tempo de contato de 120 min foi suficiente para a adsorção do íon uranilo alcançar o equilíbrio. A velocidade de adsorção seguiu o modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda-ordem, sendo que a difusão intrapartícula não era a etapa determinante do processo. Dois modelos de isotermas de adsorção, os modelos de Langmuir e de Freundlich, também foram avaliados. O modelo de Langmuir foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais. A partir do modelo cinético e da isoterma que melhor descreveram o comportamento do sistema foi possível calcular os valores teóricos para a capacidade máxima de adsorção do U(VI) sobre o compósito zeólita:magnetita. As capacidades máximas de remoção calculadas foram de 20,7 mg.g-1 pela isoterma de Langmuir e de 23,4 mg.g-1 pelo modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda ordem. O valor experimental obtido foi 23,3 mg.g-1. / Within this work, a magnetic-zeolite composite was successfully synthesized using ferrous sulfate as raw material for the magnetic part of the composite, magnetite, and coal fly ash as raw material for the zeolitic phase. The synthesis of the zeolitic phase was made by alkali hydrothermal treatment and the magnetite nanoparticles were obtained through Fe2+ precipitation on alkali medium. The synthetic process was repeated many times and showed good reproducibility comparing the zeolitic nanocomposite from different batches. The final product was characterized using infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray difraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy with coupled EDS. Specific mass, specific surface area and other physicochemical proprieties. The main crystaline phases found in the final product were magnetite, zeolites types NaP1 and hydroxysodalite, quartz and mulite, those last two remaing from the raw materials. Uranium removal capacity of the magnetic zeolite composite was tested using bathc techniques. The effects of contact time and initial concentration of the adsorbate over the adsorption process were evaluated. Equilibrium time was resolved and the following kinectics and difusion models were evaluated: pseudo-first order kinectic model, pseudo-second order kinectic model and intraparticule difusion model. A contact time of 120 min turned out to be enough to reach equilibrium of the adsorption process. The rate of adsorption followed the pseudo-second order model and the intraparticle diffusion didnt turned out to be a speed determinant step. Two adsorption isotherms models, the Langmuir model and the Freundlich model, were also evaluated. The Langmuir model was the best fit for the obtained experimental data. Using the best fitted adsorption isotherm and kinectic model, the theorical maximum adsorption capacity of uranium over the composite was determined for both models. The maximum removal capacity calculated was 20.7 mg.g-1 for the Langmuir isotherm and 23.4 mg.g-1 for the pseudo-second order model. The experimental value attained was 23,3 mg.g-1.

O presente trabalho reúne elementos para projeto de precipitadores eletrostáticos, com dados levantados de cinzas volantes provenientes da combustão de gases em caldeiras de carvão mineral. Os objetivos desta pesquisa são construir um dispositivo padronizado para medição da resistividade ôhmica de materiais, levantar dados de resistividade ôhmica das cinza volantes de carvão mineral utilizado no Brasil e, com estes dados, listar recomendações sobre cuidados no dimensionamento de precipitadores (cálculo da área de captação), quando este equipamento é posicionado após uma caldeira que queima o carvão mineral nacional. A metodologia utilizada foi baseada em norma americana ASME, em que o pó (material a ser testado) é colocado sobre eletrodos de descarga e de coleta, uma alta tensão elétrica é aplicada até atingir a tensão de ruptura elétrica e neste instante é medida a resistividade. A construção do experimento e procedimento de execução foram seguidos conforme esta norma. O material de teste foi coletado de precipitadores eletrostáticos existentes na região Sul do Brasil, onde o carvão mineral tem seu uso freqüente. Os resultados apresentaram baixos valores para resistividade da cinza volante nacional, se comparados com resultados de carvões de outros países. Sua variação em função da temperatura segue a tendência de cinza volantes de outros países, ou seja, aumento da resistividade ôhmica com o aumento da temperatura. Foram realizados também experimentos com material retirado de precipitadores eletrostáticos acoplados a caldeiras de biomassa, que forneceram valores de resistividade ainda menores do que os do carvão mineral nacional. O material de teste, composição química e processo de coleta foram totalmente caracterizados, disponibilizados e uma análise completa pôde ser realizada, fato inédito no Brasil. Esses resultados permitiram listar recomendações visando o projeto de precipitadores eletrostáticos acoplados a caldeiras que queimam carvão mineral nacional. / This report is a collection of elements to be used in the design of Electrostatic Precipitators, with experimental data of fly ashes from combustion gases of Mineral Coal Fired Boilers. The aims of this research are to construct a standard device to measure the ohmic resistivity of materials, to get data of ohmic resistivity of fly ashes from mineral coals used in Brazil and with this data, to list recommendations about the key points to size electrostatic precipitators (calculation of specific collection area), when this equipment is arranged after one boiler that burns Brazilian mineral coals. The method used was based on the ASME Standard, in which the fly ash (material to be tested) is put between the discharge and the collecting electrodes, a high electrical tension is applied until the electrical break down tension to be reached; at this moment, the resistivity is measured. The construction of this device and the experimental procedure were conducted according to this standard. The tested materials were collected from existing Electrostatic Precipitator of South of Brazil, where the mineral coal is commonly used. The results indicated low values of ohmic resistivity of the Brazilian fly ashes, if compared to results of coals from other countries. Its variation with the temperature has the same behavior of fly ashes from other countries, i.e., the ohmic resistivity increases when the temperature increases. It was also executed tests with particulate materials from electrostatic precipitator of biomass boiler whose ohmic resistivity is lower than the Brazilian mineral coal. The tested material, chemical composition, and collecting process were totally described, available and a full analysis can be executed; these data are inedita in Brazil. These results allow to list the recommendations to design Electrostatic Precipitators for Brazil Mineral Coal Fired Boilers.