Sydney Sabedot

Chemical composition and minerals in pyrite ash of an abandoned sulphuric acid production plant.

The extraction of sulphur produces a hematite-rich waste, known as roasted pyrite ash, which contains significant amounts of environmentally sensitive elements in variable concentrations and modes of occurrence. Whilst the mineralogy of roasted pyrite ash associated with iron or copper mining has been studied, as this is the main source of sulphur worldwide, the mineralogy, and more importantly, the characterization of submicron, ultrafine and nanoparticles, in coal-derived roasted pyrite ash remain to be resolved. In this work we provide essential data on the chemical composition and nanomineralogical assemblage of roasted pyrite ash. XRD, HR-TEM and FE-SEM were used to identify a large variety of minerals of anthropogenic origin. These phases result from highly complex chemical reactions occurring during the processing of coal pyrite of southern Brazil for sulphur extraction and further manufacture of sulphuric acid. Iron-rich submicron, ultrafine and nanoparticles within the ash may contain high proportions of toxic elements such as As, Se, U, among others. A number of elements, such as As, Cr, Cu, Co, La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Zn, and Zr, were found to be present in individual nanoparticles and submicron, ultrafine and nanominerals (e.g. oxides, sulphates, clays) in concentrations of up to 5%. The study of nanominerals in roasted pyrite ash from coal rejects is important to develop an understanding on the nature of this by-product, and to assess the interaction between emitted nanominerals, ultra-fine particles, and atmospheric gases, rain or body fluids, and thus to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of pyrite ash materials.

Adsorção de nitrogênio amoniacal de efluentes industriais pela zeólita Na-P1 sintetizada a partir da cinza pesada de carvão mineral

Environmental legislation in the country always requires more stringent standards for effluent generating industries. Companies must adapt to these laws making the industrial processes more efficient and less polluting. Burning coal in power plants produces bottom ash. This material returns to the coal producers and constitutes an environmental liability to the company. In this study, bottom ash was used in tests for the hydrothermal synthesis, under alkaline conditions, to generate zeolite Na-P1. Analyses by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and cation exchange capacity with standard solution of ammonium chloride confirmed to the generation of zeolite Na-P1, and the value of the cation exchange capacity of the equivalent was 23.7 mg g-1. Three industrial effluents from three different companies were collected and evaluated. Tests for ammonia adsorption in a fluidized bed reactor were performed in the three effluents. The results for the final ammonia concentration showed a reduction of 49% ±2, and the values obtained are in terms of equivalent of 21.8 mg g-1, 22.9 mg g-1 e 22.7 mg g-1. CONAMA Resolution numbers 357/2005 and 430/2011 determining values for water quality standards to the various substances. The value for ammonia is 20 mg L-1N/NH3. Considering the difficulties to reduce the ammonia nitrogen concentration in certain industrial effluents, new technologies are being implemented, such as the synthesis of zeolite from coal bottom ash. This study showed that zeolite Na-P1 has good potential for adsorption to reduce the ammonia nitrogen content from industrial effluents.

Mineral processing of low quality zircon concentrates and preconcentrates

Abstract In NE Brazil, Millennium Inorganic Chemicals do Brasil S/A produces zircon concentrates with variable contents of ZrO2. One of such concentrates, named zirconite B, presents a low ZrO2 value and high content of contaminants, being considered as a low quality concentrate. The deposit consists of coastal dunes, and the minerals are located in the base, coated by a clayey–ferruginous pellicle, which interferes in the zircon beneficiation. Besides, two other causes influence the production of the low quality concentrate: mineral inclusions and the development of metamictes in the zircons. The present work, conducted on the zirconite B concentrate and in the preconcentrate, characterises the pellicles nature, identifies the mineral inclusions in the zircons, illustrates the occurrence of metamictes in the zircons and suggest alternative routes to the production of a high quality zircon good, from the zirconite B concentrate and the zircons preconcentrate.