Ash control methods to limit biomass inorganic content and its effect on fast pyrolysis bio-oil stability

This research investigates specific ash control methods to limit inorganic content within biomass prior to fast pyrolysis and effect of specific ash components on fast pyrolysis processing, mass balance yields and bio-oil quality and stability. Inorganic content in miscanthus was naturally reduced over the winter period from June (7.36 wt. %) to February (2.80 wt. %) due to a combination of senescence and natural leaching from rain water. September harvest produced similar mass balance yields, bio-oil quality and stability compared to February harvest (conventional harvest), but nitrogen content in above ground crop was to high (208 kg ha.-1) to maintain sustainable crop production. Deionised water, 1.00% HCl and 0.10% Triton X-100 washes were used to reduce inorganic content of miscanthus. Miscanthus washed with 0.10% Triton X-100 resulted in the highest total liquid yield (76.21 wt. %) and lowest char and reaction water yields (9.77 wt. % and 8.25 wt. % respectively). Concentrations of Triton X-100 were varied to study further effects on mass balance yields and bio-oil stability. All concentrations of Triton X-100 increased total liquid yield and decreased char and reaction water yields compared to untreated miscanthus. In terms of bio-oil stability 1.00% Triton X-100 produced the most stable bio-oil with lowest viscosity index (2.43) and lowest water content index (1.01). Beech wood was impregnated with potassium and phosphorus resulting in lower liquid yields and increased char and gas yields due to their catalytic effect on fast pyrolysis product distribution. Increased potassium and phosphorus concentrations produced less stable bio-oils with viscosity and water content indexes increasing. Fast pyrolysis processing of phosphorus impregnated beech wood was problematic as the reactor bed material agglomerated into large clumps due to char formation within the reactor, affecting fluidisation and heat transfer.

Energy conversion assessment of vacuum, slow and fast pyrolysis processes for low and high ash paper waste sludge

The performance of vacuum, slow and fast pyrolysis processes to transfer energy from the paper waste sludge (PWS) to liquid and solid products was compared. Paper waste sludges with low and high ash content (8.5 and 46.7 wt.%) were converted under optimised conditions for temperature and pellet size to maximise both product yields and energy content. Comparison of the gross energy conversions, as a combination of the bio-oil/tarry phase and char (ECsum), revealed that the fast pyrolysis performance was between 18.5% and 20.1% higher for the low ash PWS, and 18.4% and 36.5% higher for high ash PWS, when compared to the slow and vacuum pyrolysis processes respectively. For both PWSs, this finding was mainly attributed to higher production of condensable organic compounds and lower water yields during FP. The low ash PWS chars, fast pyrolysis bio-oils and vacuum pyrolysis tarry phase products had high calorific values (∼18-23 MJ kg-1) making them promising for energy applications. Considering the low calorific values of the chars from alternative pyrolysis processes (∼4-7 MJ kg-1), the high ash PWS should rather be converted to fast pyrolysis bio-oil to maximise the recovery of usable energy products.

Mobility and toxicity of heavy metal(loid)s arising from contaminated wood ash application to a pasture grassland soil

The authors acknowledge the financial support the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environmental Sciences and Analytical Services (RESAS) in order to complete some of the soil and pore water sample analysis as well as the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (COST CZ LD13068), the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR 14-02183P) and EU COST actionFP1407 (‘ModWoodLife’) short term scientific mission grant in order to complete the column leaching test.

Bulk density, ash content, humification, peat accumulation and selected lithogenic data of Store Mosse peat bog

This datafile presents chemical and physical as well as age dating information from the Store Mosse peat bog in southern Sweden. This record dates back to 8900 cal yr BP. The aim of the research was to reconstruct mineral dust deposition over time. As such we have only presented the lithogenic element data (Al, Ga, Rb, Sc, Ti, Y, Zr, Th and the REE) as the sample preparation method was tailored to these. This data is supported by parameters describing the deposit including bulk density, humification, ash content and net peat accumulation rates.

Mineralogy and geochemistry of volcanic ash at Japan Trench from DSDP Legs 87 and 57

Volcanogenic sediments were obtained from Site 584, located on the midslope of the Japan Trench. Occurrences of volcanic ash in the diatomaceous mudstones increase within sediments dated 6-3 Ma. The frequency pattern and the sediment accumulation rate obtained at Site 584 are similar to those of Site 440 and to those of Sites 438 and 439, located on the upper slope basin. Explosive volcanism increased during the Pliocene and late Miocene in relation to the intrusion of Tertiary granites and uplift of the Tohoku Arc (northeastern Japan Arc). Hygromagmaphile element concentration shows that the glass does not belong to a unique series, and a comparison with Nankai Trough data distinguishes at least two different evolutionary lines.

Radiological and material characterization of high volume fly ash concrete

The main goal of research presented in this paper was the material and radiological characterization of high volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) in terms of determination of natural radionuclide content and radon emanation and exhalation coefficients. All concrete samples were made with a fly ash content between 50% and 70% of the total amount of cementitious materials from one coal burning power plant in Serbia. Physical (fresh and hardened concrete density) and mechanical properties (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) of concrete were tested. The radionuclide content (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) and radon massic exhalation of HVFAC samples were determined using gamma spectrometry. Determination of massic exhalation rates of HVFAC and its components using radon accumulation chamber techniques combined with a radon monitor was performed. The results show a beneficial effect of pozzolanic activity since the increase in fly ash content resulted in an increase in compressive strength of HVFAC by approximately 20% for the same mass of cement used in the mixtures. On the basis of the obtained radionuclide content of concrete components the I -indices of different HVFAC samples were calculated and compared with measured values (0.27e0.32), which were significantly below the recommended 1.0 index value. The prediction was relatively close to the measured values as the ratio between the calculated and measured I-index ranged between 0.89 and 1.14. Collected results of mechanical and radiological properties and performed calculations clearly prove that all 10 designed concretes with a certain type of fly ash are suitable for structural and non-structural applications both from a material and radiological point of view.

Use of Gypsum and CKD to enhance early age strength of High Volume Fly Ash (HVFA) pastes

Use of higher proportions of fly ash as a cement replacement in concrete has obvious environmental and performance benefits but high volumes of fly ash are not commonly used due to perceived lower early age strengths. In this investigation, addition of cement kiln dust (CKD) and gypsum to activate the fly ash was studied and the proportions used in the paste mixes were designed to optimize the mixture ingredients to achieve the highest early age compressive strength. Change of mineral phase composition and micro structure of the composites was analyzed. It was found that CKD was much more effective in activating the fly ash than gypsum. Appreciable early age compressive strengths were achieved for fly ash contents up to 60% of the binder and these observations were supported by analysis of the mineral phases.

Soil Stabilization with Lime Fly Ash, Iowa Highway Research Board Bulletin No. 26, 1961

The sixth in a series, this bulletin further compiles the reports on completed research done for the Iowa State Highway Research Board under its Project HR-1, The loess and glacial till materials of Iowa; an investigation of their physical and chemical properties and techniques for processing them to increase their all-weather stability for road construction. The research, started in 1950, has been conducted by the Iowa Engineering Experiment Station at Iowa State University under its Project 283-S.

Evaluation of the Chemical Durability of Iowa Fly Ash Concretes, HR-327, Phase II Progress Report, 1992

The major objective of this research project is to investigate how fly ash influences the chemical durability of portland cement based materials. The testing program is evaluating how Iowa fly ashes influence the sulfate durability of portland cement-fly ash pastes, mortars, and concretes. Also, alkali-reactivity studies are being conducted on mortar bar specimens prepared in accordance with ASTM C 311. Prelimary sulfate test results, based only on mortar bar studies, indicate that only the very high-calcium fly ash (29 percent CaO, by weight) consistently reduced the durability of test specimens exposed to a solution containing 5 percent sodium sulfate. The remaining four fly ashes that were used in the study showed negligible to dramatic increases in sulfate resistance. Concrete specimens were only beginning to respond to the sulfate solutions after about one year of exposure; and hence, considerably more time will be needed to assess their performance. Preliminary results from the alkali-reactivity tests have indicated that the Oreopolis aggregate is not sensitive to alkali attack. However, some of the test results have indicated that the testing procedure may be prone to delayed expansion due to the presence of periclase (MgO) in the Class C fly ashes. Research is being planned to: (1) verify if the periclase is influencing test results; and (2) estimating the magnitude of the potential error.

Development of a Rational Characterization Method for Iowa Fly Ash, HR-286, Annual Progress Report 1, 1986

The following report summarizes research activities on the project for the period December 1, 1985 through November 31, 1986. Research efforts for the first year have proceeded basically as outlined in the project proposal.

Development of a Rational Characterization Method for Iowa Fly Ash, HR-286, Annual Progress Report 2, 1987

The following report summarizes research activities on the project for the period December 1, 1986 to November 30, 1987. Research efforts for the second year deviated slightly from those described in the project proposal. By the end of the second year of testing, it was possible to begin evaluating how power plant operating conditions influenced the chemical and physical properties of fly ash obtained from one of the monitored power plants (Ottumwa Generating Station, OGS). Hence, several of the tasks initially assigned to the third year of the project (specifically tasks D, E, and F) were initiated during the second year of the project. Manpower constraints were balanced by delaying full scale implementation of the quantitative X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis tasks until the beginning of the third year of the project. Such changes should have little bearing on the outcome of the overall project.

Evaluation of the Chemical Durability of Iowa Fly Ash Concretes, HR-327, Phase I Progress Report, 1991

The following report summarizes research activities conducted on Iowa Department of Transportation Project HR-327, for the period April 1, 1990 through March 31, 1991. The purpose of this research project is to investigate how fly ash influences the chemical durability of portland cement based materials. The goal of this research is to utilize the empirical information obtained from laboratory testing to better estimate the durability of portland cement concrete pavements (with and without fly ash) subjected to chemical attack via the natural environment or the application of deicing salts. This project is being jointly sponsored by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Fly Ash Affiliate Research group. The research work is also being cooperatively conducted by Iowa State University and Iowa Department of Transportation research personnel. Researchers at Iowa State University are conducting the paste and mortar studies while Iowa Department of Transportation researchers are conducting the concrete study.

A satisfação profissional e a cultura organizacional : uma análise a partir do modelo ASH no Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Rio Grande do Norte

With the need of the companies in becoming more competitive within the market, it arises an incessant search for selective human potential, with a high level of capacity and low rotativity, which motivation results in production raise, quality optimization and waste reduction. This scenario requires a strategy development which advantages the Human Resources Quality Management. This way, the model of the Human System Audit (HSA), developed by the Spanish researchers Ouijano and Navarro, presents itself as an important tool to diagnosis and evaluation, contemplating the environment where the organization is inserted, its strategies, its organizational design, its processes and its organizational effectiveness. In this sense, the present study has identified the existent relation between the professional satisfaction and the Organizational Culture, based in the model HSA. The research has been a quantitative-descriptive one and has had as population the technical-administrative workers from the Federal Center of Technical Education of Rio Grande do Norte (CEFET RN). The data collection has occurred during May, 2008, by means of the application of a questionnaire in the HSA model. The sample was composed by 167 subjects, distributed among the Five units of the institution. It was used the factorial analysis, with the extraction method of main components and orthogonal rotation varimax, in order to extract the dimensions of the satisfaction and of the organizational culture and the calculation of Cronbach s Alpha coefficient, to evaluate the reliability of these dimensions. The factorial analysis of the satisfaction indicators has identified four factors,, all of them showing significance: gratefulness and relationship , self-realization , stability and security and physical conditions and social benefits . The result of the factorial analysis with the indicators of the organizational culture has extracted four factors and among them, three of them have obtained significance: Personal Satisfaction Style , Competitive-Denial-Power Style and the Conventional-Dependent Style . After identifying the dimensions of the satisfaction and culture found at CEFET-RN, it has been notice the existence or not of relation among them, through the application of Pearson s coefficient. It has been verified that all of the dimensions of the Professional satisfaction are correlated with some dimension of the organizational culture, having in outstand position, with higher intensity, the relation between the culture style of Personal Satisfaction and the satisfaction factor referring to the self-realization

Evaluation of fly ash in water reduced paving mixtures, 1984

Fly ash was used to replace 15% of the cement in C3WR and C6WR concrete paving mixes containing ASTM C494 Type A water reducin9 admixtures. Two Class C ashes and one Class F ash from Iowa approved sources were examined in each mix. When Class C ashes were used they were substituted on the basis of 1 pound of ash added for each pound of cement deleted. When Class F was used it was substituted on the basis of 1.25 pounds of ash added for each pound of cement deleted. Compressive strengths of the water reduced mixes, with and without fly ash, were determined at 7, 28, and 56 days of age. In every case except one the mixes containing the fly ash exhibited higher strengths than the same concrete mix without the fly ash. An excellent correlation existed between the C3WR and C6WR mixes both with and without fly ash substitutions. The freeze-thaw durability of the concrete studied was not affected by presence or absence of fly ash. The data gathered suggests that the present Class C water reduced concrete paving mixes can be modified to allow the substitution of 15% of the cement with an approved fly ash.