Avaliou-se a bioatividade de derivados do nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) como componente de isca para adultos e como regulador de crescimento de Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) e Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.), determinando-se, ainda, o efeito de concentrações subletais de extratos de nim e o efeito deterrente de oviposição do extrato metanólico de folhas sobre C. capitata. Utilizando o extrato aquoso de amêndoas de nim, estimou-se a CL50 para adultos e imaturos, cujos valores foram 7.522 e 1.368 ppm para os adultos e 13.028 e 9.390 ppm para os imaturos de A. fraterculus e C. capitata, respectivamente. Subsequentemente, o óleo de amêndoas, os extratos de folhas, de ramos e de amêndoas de nim em diferentes solventes (água, metanol, diclorometano e hexano) foram comparados com base nas CL50 obtidas para adultos e para imaturos. Posteriormente, foram estimadas concentrações subletais (CL15 = 39 ppm, CL30 = 225 ppm e CL45 = 888 ppm) do extrato aquoso de amêndoas para adultos de C. capitata e avaliouse nessas concentrações o efeito do extrato aquoso de amêndoas, de folhas em metanol e de ramos em diclorometano sobre a reprodução e a longevidade dessa espécie. A deterrência de oviposição do extrato metanólico de folhas de nim em diferentes concentrações (10.000, 18.000, 32.000 e 56.000 ppm) para C. capitata foi avaliada tratando bagas de uva, que foram expostas às fêmeas com chance e sem chance de escolha. Verificou-se que os derivados do nim na concentração de até 7.522 e 1.368 ppm não afetaram os adultos de A. fraterculus e C. capitata, respectivamente. Já para a fase imatura, os extratos de amêndoas e de ramos em diclorometano na concentração de 13.028 ppm causaram mortalidade de A. fraterculus e na concentração de 9.390 ppm o extrato de amêndoas em metanol e em diclorometano causaram mortalidade de C. capitata. Houve redução da fecundidade total e da fertilidade no 8º dia quando os insetos foram alimentados com extrato de ramos em diclorometano a 888 ppm. A longevidade de machos e fêmeas e o período de pré-oviposição não foram afetados pelos tratamentos. O extrato de folhas em metanol provocou deterrência de oviposição para C. capitata em situação de chance de escolha, porém, em confinamento, o referido extrato não afetou o comportamento dessa espécie. A experiência recente de C. capitata não alterou a sua resposta em relação a bagas de uva tratadas. A atividade biológica dos derivados do nim em relação às moscas-das-frutas é discutida. / The bioactivity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) as adult bait and as larval growth regulator for Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) was evaluated. Besides, the effect of sublethal concentrations of neem extracts and the oviposition deterrency of the methanolic extract from leaves on C. capitata was evaluated. The estimated LC50 of aqueous extract from seed kernels were 7,522 and 1,368 ppm for adults and 13,028 and 9,390 ppm for immatures of A. fraterculus and C. capitata, respectively. In addition, the oil from seed kernels and the extracts from leaves, branches and seed kernels in different solvents (water, methanol, dichloromethane and hexane) were compared based on the LC50 obtained for adults and immatures. After that, sublethal concentrations from aqueous extract from neem seed kernels for C. capitata adults were estimated (LC15 = 39 ppm, LC30 = 225 ppm and LC45 = 888 ppm) and the effects of such concentrations on the reproduction and logenvity of this species were also accessed. Oviposition deterrency of C. capitata to grapes treated with leaf methanolic extract at different concentrations (10,000; 18,000; 32,000 and 56,000 ppm) was evaluated in free-choice or no-choice test. It was verified that the neem extracts on the concentrations up to 7,522 and to 1,368 ppm did not affect the adults of A. fraterculus and C. capitata, respectively. On the other hand, the extract from seed kernels and branches in dichloromethane at 13,028 ppm provoked mortality in A. fraterculus larvae and the seed kernel extract in methanol and dichloromethane at 9,390 ppm provoked high mortality in C. capitata larvae. The total fecundity was reduced significantly and the fertility decreased on the 8th day when the insects were fed on branch extract in dichloromethane at 888 ppm. The longevity of males and females and the pre-oviposition period were not affected by treatments. The leaf extract in methanol provoked oviposition deterrency for C. capitata in free-choice test, but did not affect its behavior in no-choice test. The C. capitatas early experience did not affect its answer to the grapes treated in free-choice and no-choice situations. The biological activity of the neem extracts to fruit flies is discussed.

Nesta dissertação foi estudada a zeólita sintetizada a partir de cinzas leves de carvão como um potencial adsorvente para a remoção de corante reativo preto 5 (RP5). Ensaios cinéticos e de equilíbrio foram realizados visando obter-se as melhores condições para a adsorção deste corante, e verificou-se a influência dos seguintes parâmetros: efeito do tempo de contato, concentração inicial do corante, dose do adsorvente, pH da solução aquosa, adição dos sais NaCl e Na2SO4 e temperatura. O tempo de equilíbrio foi alcançado após 420 min. Os dados de adsorção foram ajustados melhor ao modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda-ordem. Para o sistema corante/adsorvente foi aplicado o modelo de isoterma de adsorção de Langmuir, apresentando capacidade de adsorção máxima de 0,685 mg g-1. Os dados experimentais mostraram uma alta porcentagem de remoção de 47,7 a 88,1% de RP5 sobre a zeólita. A alta porcentagem indicou que o material zeolítico apresenta potencial para ser usado como adsorvente na remoção de corantes azo reativo de indústrias têxteis. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos foram avaliados e demonstraram que o processo de adsorção do RP5 sobre a zeólita é espontâneo e exotérmico. Os experimentos adicionando os sais foram realizados para uma melhor simulação das condições reais do efluente. Os resultados mostraram que o equilíbrio de adsorção do RP5 sobre a zeólita na presença de sais foram alcançados em um tempo menor e que quanto maior a concentração dos sais na solução, maior a capacidade de adsorção. O resultado obtido na avaliação da toxicidade pelo microcrustáceo Daphnia similis, o tratamento de adsorção com zeólita se mostrou extremamente favorável5 reduzindo a carga tóxica e cor do efluente aquoso. / In this dissertation was studied the zeolite synthesized from coal fly ash as a potential adsorbent for the removal of reactive Black 5 dye (RP5). Equilibrium and kinetic experiments were conducted to obtain the best conditions for the adsorption of this dye, and observed the influence of the following parameters: effect of contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, pH of the aqueous solution, addition of NaCl and Na2SO4 and temperature. The equilibrium time was reached after 420 min. The adsorption data were fitted better by a pseudo-second-order. For the dye / adsorbent system was applied to the model of Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacity of 0.685 mg g-1. The experimental data showed a high percentage of removal from 47.7 to 88.1% of RP5 on the zeolite. The high percentage indicates that the zeolitic material has a potential to be used as adsorbent in the removal of azo dye reactive textile industries. The thermodynamic parameters were evaluated and showed that the adsorption process of RP5 on the zeolite is spontaneous and exothermic. The experiments were performed by adding salts to better simulate actual conditions in the effluent. The results showed that the adsorption equilibrium of reactive black 5 on the zeolite in the presence of salts were achieved in a shorter time and that the higher the concentration of salts in solution, the higher the adsorption capacity. The result obtained in the evaluation of toxicity by microcrustacean Daphnia similis treatment with zeolit adsorption was extremely favorable, reducing the toxic load of waste water and color.

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical materials in many electronics and green technology products. Though the demand for REEs is growing rapidly, China controls over 90% of the REEs supply and the US currently is not producing any REEs. As most of the REEs occurred together in the mineral ores with low concentrations and they have similar chemical and physical properties, the extraction and purification processes are challenging. Conventional methods for producing REEs require large amounts of toxic chemicals and generate large amounts of hazardous wastes. Therefore, it is important to develop alternative REE sources as well as efficient and environmentally friendly processes to produce REEs domestically. In this dissertation, coal fly ash, a major coal combustion byproduct, was explored as a potential source for REEs. Novel separation and purification methods were developed for producing high purity REEs from class F coal fly ash.<div><br></div><div>First, a sequential separation process was developed to recover and concentrate REEs from class F coal fly ash. The ash was first digested using a NaOH solution and subsequently dissolved in an acid to extract REEs as well as other chemicals. About 74% of REEs, 92 % of SiO2, 74% of Al2O3, 24% of Fe2O3, and 65% of CaO were extracted. Most (>99%) of the extracted REEs and cations (Al+3, Fe+3, Ca+2) were captured in a cation exchange column. Negatively charged Si species were eluted by water. The captured REEs were separated from the other cations in the column. A solution of NaCl was used to elute the cations and most of the REEs, which were strongly adsorbed in the column, were eluted using a solution of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). In this separation process, high purity SiO2 (>99%), Al(OH)3 (>99%), and Fe(OH)3 (>95%) were produced. The eluted DTPA-REEs solution was then loaded in a cation exchange column. The REEs accumulated in the column could be further separated into pure REE fractions using a ligand-assisted displacement chromatography method (LAD), instead of the conventional liquid-liquid extraction method.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Detailed rate model simulations were developed for LAD and verified with experimental and literature data. The dynamic column profiles in simulations showed that a prestaurant which has a higher ligand affinity and a lower sorbent affinity than REEs is required to develop an isotachic train in LAD. When a constant-pattern isotachic train is developed, high concentration bands with high purity and high yield can be achieved. Further increase in column length is not needed. Thus, if purity, yield, sorbent, and ligand are fixed, the constant-pattern state gives the highest sorbent productivity and the highest ligand efficiency. It is critical to develop a method to find the general conditions required for developing constant-pattern states. Key dimensionless parameters affecting the constant-pattern states were formulated first based on the h-transformation theory for an ideal system and the shock layer theory for a nonideal system. Strategetic combinations of the key dimensionless groups were developed to express a dimensionless mininum column length as a function of the combined dimensionless groups. Rate model simulations were used to find various minimum column lengths for developing constant-pattern states from transient states. The simulation results were used to generate a correlation curve in a two-dimensional plot or map where the curve divided the map into two regions, the transient region, and the constant-pattern region. The map can be used to find the minimum required conditions for developing a constant-pattern state for a general LAD system at any scale.<br></div><div><br></div><div>A constant-pattern design method for both ideal and non-ideal (with significant mass transfer effects) LAD systems was developed based on the general correlation equation for the map. In addition, an equation for the yield of a target component as a function of the key dimensionless groups was derived based on the constant-pattern mass transfer zone lengths. The column length and operating velocity solved from the two equations ensured the yields and the constant–pattern state for the target components. A selectivity weighted composition factor was developed to allow the design method to specify a minimum target yield for one or multiple components. The design method is robust and scalable because it provides the optimal operating conditions to meet the minimum target yield and purity of one or multiple components for LAD systems at any scale. The design method was verified using simulations and experiments for different target yields, ligand concentrations, and feed compositions for ternary mixtures. The minimum target yields were achieved or exceeded in all cases tested. The results showed that high ligand concentration, long column length, and high effective sorbent selectivity can increase sorbent productivity. The minimum column length required to achieve a constant-pattern state and the productivity of LAD are limited by the lowest selectivity or by a minority component with a low concentration in the feed, even when it does not have the lowest selectivity. If both minor and major REE components in a mixture need to be recovered in the same LAD process, the overall productivity could be significantly limited. Thus, separating major components first and recycling/separating the minor components in a separate LAD process could increase the total productivity significantly. The productivities achieved using this design method are two orders of magnitude higher than the literature results with similar REE yields and purities.<br></div>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Coal combustion accounts for 95% of electricity generation in South Africa while globally coal combustion for energy generation stands at 42%. It has been predicted that coal utilization for energy generation will continue due to its low cost and availability in huge quantities in different parts of the world. Additionally brine and gaseous emissions are produced in the power generation and coal combustion processes. In fact, it has been established that CO2 emissions from power plants are the main cause of the green-house effect leading to global warming. Mitigation of the effects of disposal of fly ash, brine and CO2 emissions is critical for sustainable energy generation from coal and environmental protection. The study investigated whether South African coal fly ash could be used for brine remediation and CO2 capture using fly ash based hydrotalcites and zeolites. Four main objectives were investigated. These were; firstly, to compare the natural CO2 capture potential of a power station ash dam with an accelerated ex-situ mineral carbonation process. Secondly, to probe the effect of accelerated ex-situ mineral carbonation on brine quality with regards to major, minor and trace elements concentration. Furthermore, the study investigated the feasibility of synthesizing hydrotalcites from fly ash by optimizing the synthesis parameters such as acid concentration, aging time, aging temperature, pH during aging, crystallization time and crystallization temperature. Finally the study compared the CO2 adsorption capacities of the fly ash based hydrotalcites with fly ash based zeolites NaA, and NaX. The natural carbonation potential of the wet disposed ash dam at Secunda was investigated by coring a 20 year old dam. Three cores (SI, S2 and S3) were obtained by air flush coring the dam along a geophysical line and establishing the geophysical profile of the three cores. The surface of the three cores was of medium resistivity with values between 9.3 and 12.2 nm while the midsections were of low resistivity with values ranging between 4 and 7 nm. The base section of core SI had a resistivity of 28.3 nm, that of S2 was between 16.2 and 21.4 nm and that of S3 between 12.2 and 16.2 nm; implying that SI had the lowest salt load while S3 had the highest salt content. Moisture content was observed to be high deeper down the profiles of S2 and S3 with samples appearing water logged while SI had the highest moisture content at the surface showing the inhomogeneity of the ash dam. The morphology of fresh fly ash taken from the ash collection hoppers at Secunda was observed to be spherical. Weathered ash from the ash dam showed irregularly agglomerated particles while accelerated ex-situ mineral carbonation resulted in the formation of acicular particles of calcite. Fresh ash, weathered ash and the accelerated carbonated ash were all class F with a sum total of silica, alumina and iron oxide totaling more than 70%. A reduction in silica and alumina content with instability of fly ash. Dumping of spent iron catalyst (resulting from the petrochemical operations as Sasol) on the ash dam led to an increase in Fe203 content of the weathered ash. Enrichment of Nb, Sr, Y, Th, Na, Cl, S04, K and S with natural carbonation as well as during accelerated ex-situ mineral carbonation was observed and was due to the contact of ash with brine during these two processes. Reduction of Zr, Rb, Pb, Ni, Co and V content of ash was observed with weathering. Mineralogically, all the ash samples had main phases of mullite, quartz, magnetite and hematite, with weathered and accelerated carbonated ash having additional phases of calcite. The aluminosilicious nature of the three ashes was identified by structural evaluation using Fourier transform infrared analysis which revealed that, bands associated with C-O in-plane and out of plane bending of carbonates was only visible in weathered and carbonated ash.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) composting is a treatment procedure that generates two products: frass compost and BSFL. These products have different uses. BSFL can be used as animal feed and frass compost as soil fertiliser, and they need to be separated after the composting procedure has been finished. A separator of the vibrating sieve type, currently in use by a research group at SLU for separating BSFL from the frass compost generated by the composting process, was tested and evaluated in terms of fraction purity and separation time. It was found that the fraction purity was over 90% for the BSFL fraction, and that the separation time was approximately 1-1.5 minutes for 4 kg of material. Hotspots for improvement were identified and a new vibrating sieve was designed and built with the aim of providing flexibility for improving fraction purity, separation time and operator ergonomy for the end-customer. A CAD model of the new vibrating sieve was designed in SolidWorks with a complete set of technical drawings and purchasing components. These drawings were sent out for manufacturing at a workshop and the new vibrating sieve was built and tested. The new vibrating sieve was functioning properly, but its optimal mechanical settings need further research and testing. This separator design could be emulated by others, and also improved, and this research could be used for improving the process outcome for future BSFL separation processes.

This diploma thesis describes realization and testing on-the-fly measurement using tracking interferometer. This measurement enables to achieve higher amount of measured points and decrease time of machine tool calibration. Calibration and verification values of machine parameters, as well as time of measurement and other details of this method are compared with results of conventional method called trigger. To evaluate the quality of volumetric compensation created from calibration values, we use verification measurement of circular interpolation.

The thesis is focused on research and development of hydraulic binders based on FBC-ashes. It examines the possibilities of using this ash in the clinker so that the properties of the final cement are comparable to Portland cement. As an integral part of this thesis the research of emission reduction possibilities in the cement industry - a very current topic these days - is presented.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Fly ash is the most abundant of the waste materials generated from coal combustion in coal-fired power stations. South Africa uses more than 100 million tonnes of low grade bituminous coal annually to produce cheap electricity thereby generating huge amounts of fly ash each year. The disposal of fly ash has been a major concern to the world because of its potential environmental impact due to the possible leaching of the toxic elements contained in fly ash. This study centres on the chemical characterization and leaching behaviour of the fly ashes generated from SASOL Synfuels and ESKOM power station at Secunda and Tutuka in South Africa respectively. The aim is to understand the composition of the fly ashes and to determine the leachability of species from the ashes in order to predict the environmental effect of the different ash handling system of the coalfired stations (wet disposal system in Secunda and dry disposal system in Tutuka). Several leaching methods were employed in this study in order to develop a methodology for evaluating and modelling ash system and were able to discriminate between ash types and model ash handling system. Fly ashes from the two South African coal-fired stations were subjected to total acid-digestion and XRF analyses in order to determine the total amounts of major and minor species contained in the fly ashes. The total acid-digestion test and the XRF analysis revealed that the major species such as Al, Si, Ca, Na, Mg, K, Sr, Ba and S04, and minor species such as Fe, Ti, V, Mn, Cr, Ni and Cu were present in both fly ashes in fairly similar concentrations. The mineralogical characterization by XRD of Secunda and Tutuka fly ashes revealed mullite and quartz as the major mineral phases with minor peaks of CaO and calcite. Several leaching tests and different leaching conditions were employed in this study in order to develop a standardized replicable methodology for environmental impact assessment and for modelling the impact of different ash handling scenarios. The fly ashes were exposed to these different leaf leachant of different pHs on the leachability of species from the fly ashes. To achieve this, DIN-S4, TCLP and ANC tests were employed. The natural pH of the fly ash leachates were very high ranging between 12.56 and 13.08. The DIN-S4 leaching test revealed that the easily soluble species of the fly ashes include Ca, Mg, Na, K and S04 and various toxic elements. The leachates from the TCLP test recorded higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, K and S04 which was attributed to the slight decrease in the pH due to the addition of a acidic leachant with a pH of 2.88. Comparison of the amount leached (DIN-S4) from the fly ashes with the total concentrations of each of the components of the fly ashes (determined by the total acid-digestion), the percentage of each of the readily soluble species ranged from 15-24.23% for Ca, 0.23-0.45% for K, 0.58-0.82% for Na, 0.0047-0.007% for Mg, 0.96-3.33% for Ba and 0.012-1.51 % for S04 per dry mass of each component in the fly ash. The ANC test revealed the effect of a leachant of specified pH on the release of species from the fly ashes with concentrations of the major and minor species leached out of the fly ashes found to be higher than the concentrations released into the leachates when DIN-S4 and TCLP test were considered at specific pH and showed the pH dependence of the solubility and release of species. These tests also showed the effect of the liquid to solid ratio upon leachability of species. In addition to the batch leaching tests mentioned above, dissolution kinetics and up-flow percolation tests were carried out on the fly ashes to determine the leaching behaviours of the fly ashes over time and the factors controlling the release of species from the fly ashes in the long term. The dissolution kinetics test was done for an extended period of 60 days with recycle of the leachant and the up-flow percolation test was carried out with constant leachant renewal until a liquid/solid ratio of 20 was attained (:::::;9d0ays). The geochemical computer code PHREEQC and MINTEQ database was used for geochemical modelling of the leachates at various reaction times and LIS ratios. The geochemical modelling results revealed that the release of the species from the fly ashes is controlled by the solubility of mineral phases in many case except for Na. The release of Ca, S04, Mg, Ba and Sr in the leachates of the fly ashes were predicted to be controlled by portlandite, gypsum, brucite, barite and celestite respectively while birnessite, magnetite, BaCr04, CaMo04 and Ba(As04h were predicted to be the mineral phases controlling the release of Mn, Fe, Cr, Mo and As respectively. The pH of the leachates plays a significant role in the leaching of both major and minor species from the fly ashes. The concentrations of species leached into solution at low pH (ANC and TCLP) were higher than the concentrations released at high pH (DIN-S4, dissolution kinetics and up-flow percolation tests). The amounts of the toxic elements such as As, Se, Cd, Cr and Pb that leached out of the fly ashes when in contact with demineralized water (DIN-S4) were very low and below the target water quality range (TWQR) of South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), but the amounts of As and Se leached out by acidic leachant applied in the TCLP test and at lower pH ranging between 8 and 10 the case of the ANC test were slightly higher than the TWQR, which is an indication that the pH of the leaching solution and the contact time playa significant role on the leaching of species out of the fly ashes. This study revealed that the leaching of species from the fly ashes depends on various factors which include: physical and chemical characteristics and mineralogical composition of the fly ashes, the total concentrations of species in the ash, the rate of flow through the ash system and more importantly the pH of the leachant to which the ash system is exposed to. The results of different experiments and analysis carried out on the two South African fly ashes (Secunda and Tutuka fly ashes) showed that, despite the high concentrations of soluble species or leachable elements in the fly ashes, the leaching of major, minor and trace elements into the soils and the groundwater could be minimized if certain conditions such as avoiding acidic precipitation that could reduce the pH of the ash system are adhered to. The leaching trends of the species and the geochemical modelling data also showed that the formation of secondary mineral phases could reduce the release of toxic elements, the release of which would require aggressive low pH leachants, high flow rate, high recharge and long-term leaching for the dissolution of the formed mineral phases. In conclusion, the combination of the leaching tests employed in this study gives information on the leaching behaviour of the Secunda and Tutuka fly ashes and the factors controlling the leaching of the elements from the fly ashes. This study has been able to show that elements are leached out of the fly ashes at both alkaline and acidic pH. It is also revealed in the study that the disposal techniques employed by the coal-fired stations which were simulated by using the dissolution kinetics and up-flow percolation tests are adequate methods for modelling of the ash disposal scenario. These two methods show that the dry disposal system at Tutuka will encourage equilibration of the ash/water system thereby facilitating the precipitation of mineral phases that could control the release of both major and minor species from the fly ash, whereas the wet ashing system at Secunda may expose the ash to sufficient flow to rapidly leach species out into the environment.

Ground granulated blast furnace slag is a by-product of the steel industry and is often used in combination with ordinary Portland cement as a binder in concrete. When concrete is exposed to high temperatures, physical and chemical transformations lead to significant loss of mechanical properties. This study aims to investigate the effect of high temperatures and rehydration on the mechanical properties, microstructure and phase composition of alkali activated slag. The results of the research could make an important contribution to decisions made concerning the reconstruction of structures affected by fire. In suitable cases it would be possible to regenerate parts of a structure instead of totally rebuilding it.

Aufgrund ihrer speziellen Eigenschaften können sogenannte eisnukleierende Partikel die Bildung von Eis in Wolken katalysieren. Laboruntersuchungen zum Gefrierverhalten dieser Partikel haben sich als wertvoll erwiesen, wenn es um das Verständnis zugrunde liegender Prinzipien und Mechanismen geht. Eine Spezies, die in früheren Untersuchungen vernachlässigt wurde, ist Flugasche aus Kohleverbrennung. Kohle-Flugasche (KFA) wird aufgrund ineffizienter Filterung submikroner Partikel über die Schornsteine von Kraftwerken emittiert und kann, in Abhängigkeit der meteorologischen Bedingungen, die Vereisung von Wolken in der Nähe der Quelle und darüber hinaus beeinflussen. In dieser Arbeit wurde das Immersionsgefrierverhalten, d.h. der Einfluss eingeschlossener Partikel auf das Gefrieren unterkühlter Tropfen, für vier verschiedene KFA-Proben aus deutschen Kohlekraftwerken untersucht. Dabei wurden einerseits Tropfen untersucht, die ein einzelnes submikrones Partikel enthielten. Andererseits wurde das Gefrierverhalten von Suspensionstropfen, die eine Vielzahl verschieden großer Partikel beinhalteten, quantifiziert. Zusätzlich wurden die Proben, sowohl in ihrer Gesamtheit als auch in Form einzelner submikroner Partikel, bezüglich ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung, Morphologie und Kristallographie analysiert. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die Gefriereffizienz der Proben innerhalb von Minuten abnimmt, sobald diese in Berührung mit Wasser kommen. Immersionsgefriermessungen mit purem Anhydrit (CaSO4 ), das in den Proben nachgewiesen wurde, zeigten einen ähnlichen Trend, d.h. eine abnehmende Effizienz mit zunehmender Suspensionszeit. Diese Beobachtung, und die Übereinstimmung von Messungen mit KFA-Suspensionspartikeln und Gips (CaSO 4 * 2H2O, ein Hydrat des Anhydrits), weisen darauf hin, dass Hydratation die Ursache für die Abnahme der Gefriereffizienz sein könnte. Dieser Einfluss von Probeneigenschaften und Methodologie auf das Immersionsgefrierverhalten von KFA-Partikeln muss bei der Abschätzung der Relevanz der Partikel für die atmosphärische Eisnukleation unbedingt berücksichtigt werden.:1. Introduction 2. Fundamentals 2.1 Ice nucleation theory 2.2 Properties of CFA particles 3. Materials and Methods 3.1 Materials 3.2 Methods 4. Results 4.1 Physicochemical sample characterization 4.2 Immersion freezing behavior of CFA 5. Discussion 5.1 Comparison to literature results 5.2 Physicochemical particle properties and immersion freezing behavior 5.3 Atmospheric implications 6. Summary and Conclusions 7. Outlook / Due to their specific properties, atmospheric ice-nucleating particles are able to catalyze ice formation in clouds. Laboratory studies investigating the freezing behavior of these particles have proven to be of unmatched value when attempting to understand underlying principles and mechanisms. One species that has almost entirely been neglected in previous ice nucleation studies is fly ash from coal combustion (CFA: coal fly ash). Emitted through the stacks of power plants due to inefficient filtering of submicron particles, CFA has the potential to influence cloud glaciation in source regions and beyond, depending on the meteorological conditions. In this thesis, the immersion freezing behavior, i.e., the influence of particles immersed in supercooled cloud droplets on ice nucleation, of four samples from German power plants was determined with the help of several single particle and bulk instruments. In parallel, single particles and bulk CFA were investigated with respect to their chemical composition, morphology, and crystallography. It was found that the immersion freezing efficiency of the CFA particles decreases in contact with water on the time scale of minutes. Hydration products, that were found in both single particles and in the bulk after suspension, could be responsible for this unique behavior. Immersion freezing measurements with pure anhydrite (anhydrous CaSO4 ), which is known to occur at the surface of CFA particles, showed the same qualitative trend, i.e., a decreasing efficiency with increasing suspension time. This observation, and the agreement between measurements with suspended CFA particles and gypsum (CaSO4 * 2H2O, a hydrate of anhydrite), support the hypothesis that hydration causes the observed decrease in immersion freezing efficiency. This influence of sample properties and methodology on the immersion freezing behavior of CFA must be taken into consideration when assessing the relevance of these particles for atmospheric ice nucleation.:1. Introduction 2. Fundamentals 2.1 Ice nucleation theory 2.2 Properties of CFA particles 3. Materials and Methods 3.1 Materials 3.2 Methods 4. Results 4.1 Physicochemical sample characterization 4.2 Immersion freezing behavior of CFA 5. Discussion 5.1 Comparison to literature results 5.2 Physicochemical particle properties and immersion freezing behavior 5.3 Atmospheric implications 6. Summary and Conclusions 7. Outlook