High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy Study of a Powder River Basin Coal-Derived Fly Ash
James C. Hower, Debora Berti, Christopher Winkler, Dali Qian, N. Briot
Abstract
Examination of a fly ash derived from the combustion of a low-S, subbituminous Powder River Basin coal by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), both supplemented by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), showed that the fly ashes were dominated by amorphous phases, Ca-rich plagioclase feldspars, Mg-rich phases, complex Ca-Mg-Al-Si-Ti-Fe grains, and trace amounts of REE-rich particles. Many of the particles were rimmed by a Ca-S, possibly a sulfate. HRTEM-EDS examination of a REE-rich particle proved it to be a mix of light- and heavy-rare earth minerals mixed with amorphous phases.
Topics & Concepts
High-resolution transmission electron microscopyFly ashTransmission electron microscopyAmorphous solidScanning electron microscopeMineralogyPlagioclaseMaterials scienceEnergy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopyParticle (ecology)CoalQuartzAnalytical Chemistry (journal)Chemical engineeringGeologyChemistryMetallurgyCrystallographyEnvironmental chemistryNanotechnologyComposite materialOceanographyOrganic chemistryEngineeringCoal and Its By-productsCoal Properties and UtilizationRecycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production