No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The cement industry contributes around 5-7% of man-made CO2 emissions globally because of the Portland Cement (PC) production. Therefore, innovative reactive magnesia cement, with significant sustainable and technical advantages, has been proposed by blending reactive MgO and hydraulic binders in various proportions. MgO is currently produced from the calcination of magnesite (MgCO3), emitting more CO2 than the production of PC, or from seawater/brine which is also extremely energy intensive. Hence this research aims to investigate an innovative method to produce MgO from reject brine, a waste Mg source, through carbon sequestration, by its reaction with CO2, to provide a comparable low carbon manufacturing process due to the recycling of CO2. The produced deposits are then calcined to oxides with potential usage in construction industry. The entire system is a closed loop to achieve both environmental optimisation and good productivity. This research focuses on the chemical manufacturing process, integrated with material science knowledge and advancements, instead of concentrating purely on chemistry evaluations. Six series of studies were conducted, utilising MgCl2, CaCl2, MgCl2-CaCl2, MgCl2-CaCl2-NaCl, and MgCl2-CaCl2-NaCl-KCl to react with CO2 under alkaline conditions. The precipitates include hydrated magnesium carbonates, calcium carbonates and magnesian calcite. Generated carbonates were then calcined in a furnace to obtain MgO, CaO or dolime (CaO•MgO). All six series of carbonation processes were carried out under a controlled pH level, to study the constant pH’s effect on the process and resulting precipitates. Other controllable factors include pH, temperature, initial concentration, stirring speed, and CO2 flux rate. In conclusion, the optimum parameters for the production of the carbonated precipitates are: 0.25MgCl2 + 0.05CaCl2 + 2.35NaCl + 0.05KCl, 700rpm stirring speed, 25oC room temperature, pH=10.5, and 500cm3/min CO2 infusion rate. Reaction time is within a day. These parameters are chosen based on the sequestration level, particle performance morphology and the operational convenience. The optimum calcination parameters are at 800oC heating temperature with a 4h retention time.

The effects of initial particle moisture content, wood-cement ratio and density on physical (thickness swelling and water absorption) and mechanical properties (MOE, MOR, IB and edgewise compression) were investigated. Five initial particle moisture content levels - 0-6%, 8-15%, 25-30%, 40-50% and 60-80%; three wood-cement ratios - 1:1, 1:1.5 and 1:2; and three density levels at each wood-cement ratio - 1:1 -0.472 g/cm³, 0.528 g/cm³ and 0.622 g/cm³, 1:1.5 - 0.636 g/cm³, 0.707 g/cm³ and 0.809 g/cm³; and 1:2 - 0.763 g/cm³, 0.847 g/cm³ and 0.939 g/cm³ were used. Combinations of the above variables gave 45 treatments. Three replicate boards were made for each treatment thus giving a total of 135 panels for the study. A total of 135 test specimens were used for each property tested. Results from the tests were compared to the German and ISO Standards for similar boards and to the Canadian Waferboard Standard. Initial particle moisture content was highly significant in the development of physical and mechanical properties of magnesite cement-bonded particleboard. Increasing initial particle moisture content from 0-6% to 60-80% resulted in the reduction of the physical and mechanical properties of the boards. The highest initial particle moisture content of (60-80%) yielded the lowest physical and mechanical properties. For manufacture of boards of favourable mechanical properties, an initial particle moisture content of not more than 15% is recommended. On the other hand, a higher initial particle moisture content (>40%) is considered desirable if board thickness and water absorption are to be minimized. All the mechanical properties tested consistently increased by increasing wood-cement ratio and density and were highest at 1:2 wood-cement ratio and density level 3 of each wood-cement ratio. Thickness swelling and water absorption were consistently reduced by increasing wood-cement ratio and density. In both physical properties tests, the 1:2 wood-cement ratio and density level 3 yielded the lowest values. Thirty-two of the forty-five treatment combinations of initial particle moisture content, density and wood-cement ratio pass the MOE requirement of the German Standard DIN 52 362 for Portland cement-bonded particleboard; forty-one treatments met the minimum MOE Canadian Waferboard Standard requirements, while no treatment meet the MOR requirements for this Standard. Eleven of the forty-five treatments met the minimum IB Canadian Waferboard Standard requirements. All the 45 treatments pass the ISO building board requirements in thickness swelling, while 18 treatments pass the water absorption requirements for this Standard. Most of the treatment combinations compare favourably with results obtained in tests conducted in Europe for cement-bonded particleboard. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate