Winny Wulandari

Kinetic analysis of silicothermic process under flowing argon atmosphere

Abstract The Pidgeon process, a silicothermic reduction of calcined dolomite under vacuum, is the dominant process to make magnesium metal. Experimental data from Morsi et al., were utilised for kinetics analysis of silicothermic reduction of calcined dolomite under argon atmosphere. A number of kinetic models were assessed to evaluate the rate-controlling step in the process. The results suggest that the reaction is controlled by the solid-state diffusion of reactants with the Jander and Ginstling–Brounshtein model providing the best representation of the process kinetics. Mass transfer effects of magnesium vapour from the surface to the bulk gas phase was also analysed. These results suggest that gas–film mass transfer is not the limiting step of the kinetics. Pore diffusion through briquettes is postulated to have some effect on the kinetics but solid-state diffusion is the major rate-limiting step. Le procédé Pidgeon, une réduction silicothermique sous vide de dolomie calcinée, est le procédé dominant de production de magnésium métallique. On a utilisé les données expérimentales de Morsi et al pour l’analyse cinétique de la réduction silicothermique de dolomie calcinée sous une atmosphère d’argon. On a estimé un certain nombre de modèles cinétiques afin d’évaluer l’étape du procédé cinétiquement limitante. Les résultats suggèrent que la diffusion à l’état solide des réactants contrôle la réaction, le modèle de Jander et Ginstling-Brounshtein fournissant la meilleure représentation de la cinétique du procédé. On a également analysé les effets du transfert massique de la vapeur de magnésium de la surface vers le cœur de la phase gazeuse. Ces résultats suggèrent que le transfert de masse gaz-film n’est pas l’étape limitante de la cinétique. On postule que la diffusion par pore à travers les briquettes a un certain effet sur la cinétique mais la diffusion à l’état solide est l’étape majeure cinétiquement limitante.

Thermomechanical Characterization of Blended Biomass-Coal Ash Waste Materials

The combustion of biomass for energy generation is practiced in an increasing scale in Indonesia as the country heads towards the long-term national energy mix targeted by 2025. However, biomass combustion is prone to operational problems caused by the generally low-melting nature of biomass ashes. This work discusses the effects of co-combusting coal with POEFB (palm oil empty fruit bunch) and bamboo with respect to the thermomechanical behavior of the produced ashes. Coal is observed to increase the ash fusion temperatures (AFT) of neat and combined POEFB and bamboo ashes by as much as 300 °C. Aluminosilicate minerals in the coal combine with potassium in the biomass during co-combustion, producing high-melting K-aluminosilicates. A linear correlation is identified between measured AFT and ash liquidus temperatures estimated by FactSage thermochemistry calculation software, enabling the prediction of AFT of coal-biomass co-combustion systems.

Implementation of reverse flotation method to reduce reactive and non-reactive silica in bauxite ore from West Kalimantan

This paper reports a study that implements reverse flotation method to separate silica from West Kalimantan bauxite ores. The study is aimed to find the good process condition to obtain low-silica bauxite as the feed for the Bayer process. The experiments were carried out in a 1 L of flotation cell tank. Dodecylamine was used as the collector, starch as the depressant, and MIBC as the frother. The varied parameters were solid content to solution (15–30% w/w), and pH (6 – 10). The results of XRF of products show that in all reverse flotation experiments, the ratio of alumina to silica (Al/Si) are increased from 7 up to 14. The increase of solid percentage in the flotation gives a good result for Al/Si ratio as well as alumina and silica recovery in concentrate, with 30% w/w solid percentage to solution increases Al/Si ratio to 14.38, with silica recovery of 20%. The good separation with variation of depressants is obtained with depressant concentration of 400 g/ton bauxite, with Al/Si ratio in concentrate ...

Thermal decomposition of dolomite under CO2-air atmosphere

This paper reports a study on thermal decomposition of dolomite under CO2-air. Calcination was carried out non-isothermally by using thermogravimetry analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC) with a heating rate of 10°C/minute in an air atmosphere as well as 10 vol% CO2 and 90 vol% air atmosphere from 25 to 950°C. In addition, a thermodynamic modeling was also carried out to simulate dolomite calcination in different level of CO2−air atmosphere by using FactSage® 7.0. The the main constituents of typical dolomite from Gresik, East Java include MgCO3 (magnesite), CaCO3 (calcite), Ca(OH)2, CaO, MgO, and less than 1% of metal impurities. Based on the kinetics analysis from TGA results, it is found that non-isothermal dolomite calcination in 10 vol% CO2 atmosphere is occurred in a two-stage reaction; the first stage is the decomposition of magnesite at 650-740 °C with activation energy of 161.23 kJ/mol, and the second stage is the decomposition of calcite at 775-820 °C with activation energy of 162...

Extraction of nickel from nickel limonite ore using dissolved gaseous SO2 – air

This paper reports a method of extracting nickel from nickel limonite by using dissolved SO2−air in ambient pressure. This method has been reported in the literature to be having advantages of a high selectivity of nickel towards iron, and can be conducted at ambient condition. The purpose of this study is to determine the good condition of nickel extraction from limonite ore by conducting pre-treatment and varying temperature and pH. The experiments were carried out in a five-neck reactor and comprised of three steps: pre-treatment of sample by pre-heating at 650 °C, leaching of the pre-treated sample, and analysis. The leaching solution was analyzed by using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometer) method to determine the concentration of nickel and iron in the solution. The operating parameters included the acidity pH level of 3, 4, or 5 and the temperature of 30, 55, and 80 °C. The leaching was carried out up to 180 min. The mineralogical analysis of the ore was conducted by using XRD (X-Ray Diffraction) ...

Effects of biomass type, blend composition, and co-pyrolysis temperature on hybrid coal quality

An experimental study on co-pyrolysis of coal with biomass wastes to produce hybrid coal was conducted to investigate the effects of important process variables, namely biomass type (rice husk and sawdust), blend composition, and co-pyrolysis temperature on the quality of hybrid coal. The experiments were carried out using a vertical tubular furnace equipped with temperature controller to maintain the co-pyrolysis reactor at a given temperature. Nitrogen gas was introduced into the furnace to create an inert environment preventing the sample from burning. A known mass of solid sample consisting of manually granulated blend of coal and biomass with binder in spherical shape was contained in a basket made of stainless sieve. After a given residence time, the sample was taken from the furnace. The blend sample prior to experiment and the produced hybrid coal were then characterized for its proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorific value. Experimental findings suggested that by increasing co-pyrolysis temperature from 200 to 400 °C, the calorific value of hybrid coal will increase by 14.5-17.7% to be 5585-7060 kcal/kg. It was also showed that 30% increase in the biomass content in the fuel blend would produce a hybrid coal that emitting up to 25.9% less in CO2 when used for combustion, although its calorific value decreased down to 8% compared to the biomass blend. It is shown that hybrid coal obtained from this study is comparable in calorific value to bituminous coal, thus suitable for power plant while being more environmentally friendly.An experimental study on co-pyrolysis of coal with biomass wastes to produce hybrid coal was conducted to investigate the effects of important process variables, namely biomass type (rice husk and sawdust), blend composition, and co-pyrolysis temperature on the quality of hybrid coal. The experiments were carried out using a vertical tubular furnace equipped with temperature controller to maintain the co-pyrolysis reactor at a given temperature. Nitrogen gas was introduced into the furnace to create an inert environment preventing the sample from burning. A known mass of solid sample consisting of manually granulated blend of coal and biomass with binder in spherical shape was contained in a basket made of stainless sieve. After a given residence time, the sample was taken from the furnace. The blend sample prior to experiment and the produced hybrid coal were then characterized for its proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and calorific value. Experimental findings suggested that by increasing co-pyrolys...

Reuse of Coconut Shell, Rice Husk, and Coal Ash Blends in Geopolymer Synthesis

Mixtures of biomass and coal ashes are likely to be produced in increasing volume as biomass-based energy production is gaining importance in Indonesia. This work highlights the reuse of coconut shell ash (CSA), rice husk ash (RHA), and coal fly ash (FA) for geopolymer synthesis by an activator solution containing concentrated KOH and Na2SiO3. Ash blend compositions are varied according to a simplex-centroid mixture experimental design. Activator to ash mass ratios are varied from 0.8 to 2.0, the higher value being applied for ash compositions with higher Si/Al ratio. The impact of ash blend composition on early strength is adequately modeled by an incomplete quadratic mixture model. Overall, the ashes can produce geopolymer mortars with an early strength exceeding the Indonesian SNI 15-2049-2004 standard minimum value of 2.0 MPa. Good workability of the geopolymer is indicated by their initial setting times which are longer than the minimum value of 45 mins. Geopolymers composed predominantly of RHA composition exhibit poor strength and excessive setting time. FTIR spectroscopy confirms the geopolymerization of the ashes by the shift of the Si-O-Si/Al asymmetric stretching vibrational mode. Overall, these results point to the feasibility of geopolymerization as a reuse pathway for biomass combustion waste.

Synthesis of geopolymer from biomass-coal ash blends

Geopolymer is an environmentally attractive Portland cement substitute, owing to its lower carbon footprint and its ability to consume various aluminosilicate waste materials as its precursors. This work describes the development of geopolymer formulation based on biomass-coal ash blends, which is predicted to be the prevalent type of waste when biomass-based thermal energy production becomes mainstream in Indonesia. The ash blends contain an ASTM Class F coal fly ash (FA), rice husk ash (RHA), and coconut shell ash (CSA). A mixture of Na2SiO3 and concentrated KOH is used as the activator solution. A preliminary experiment identified the appropriate activator/ash mass ratio to be 2.0, while the activator Na2SiO3/KOH ratio varies from 0.8 to 2.0 with increasing ash blend Si/Al ratio. Both non-blended FA and CSA are able to produce geopolymer mortars with 7-day compressive strength exceeding the Indonesian national SNI 15-2049-2004 standard minimum value of 2.0 MPa stipulated for Portland cement mortars. As...