Peter Norberg

Preparation and characterization of double metal-silica sorbent for gas filtration

This paper presents the preparation of a porous (Mg, Ca) silicate structure, which could be employed as sorbent filter media. The sorbents have been prepared using sodium silicate precipitated with various ratios of magnesium and calcium salts. The sorbents obtained were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen physisorption isotherm. Further, the applicability and performance of the sorbent impregnate with potassium hydroxide for removal of sulphur dioxide (SO2) has been demonstrated. From the isotherms, specific surface area, pore diameter and volume of pores were estimated. Results show that the chemical composition and textural properties of the resultant sorbents were highly dependent on Mg/Ca molar ratio. It was found that sorbents made with 68 mol% Mg and 32 mol% Ca (PSS-MgCa-68/32); and 75 mol% Mg and 25 mol% Ca (PSS-MgCa-75/25) exhibited even higher specific surface area and pore volume than the sorbents containing a single metal. The Mg/Ca-silica sorbents obtained contains interconnected bimodal porosity with large portions being mesopores of varied sizes. The pore size distribution (PSD) results further indicate that PSS-MgCa-68/32 sorbent exhibits wide PSD of interconnected pores in the size range of 1 to 32 nm while PSS-MgCa-50/50 and PSS-MgCa-75/25 exhibits narrow PSD of 1 to 5 nm. Using SO2 as model contaminate gas, it was shown that the dynamic adsorption performance of the PSS-MgCa-sorbents impregnated with 8 wt% KOH exhibits SO2 uptake, with impregnated PSS-MgCa-68/32 showing better performance. This shows that the materials prepared can be used as adsorbent for gas filtration.

A Methodology for Quantifying the Atmospheric Corrosion Performance of Fabricated Metal Products in Marine Environments

In Australia a long-term project is studying the marine atmospheric corrosion performance of several metals and alloys, and a range of generic classes of coatings and finishes (metallic and organic) on steel and aluminum. Specimens have been exposed for over nine years at three marine sites, both in the open and under a specially designed glass shelter which has greatly accelerated deterioration. The sheet product test pieces include a range of features designed to simulate the types of distress introduced during manufacture and building, and at which corrosion defects initially manifest. A methodology is described for the development of quantitative performance indices for these formed specimens. The general philosophy involves using the collected data to determine appropriate weighting to different types of defects on features, or to the relative contribution of different features to overall defect indices and in turn their relative contribution to a total performance index. A rigorous mathematical procedure was followed to calculate defect indices and total performance indices for all products. Some results for the two-year specimens are discussed.