Special Issue "Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II"

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2023 | Viewed by 6028

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Environmental Technology, CEET, VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava, 70800 Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic
Interests: clays; vermiculite; kaolin group; structure properties; thermal changes; clay mineral-metal oxide nanoparticles composites; ceramics based on the clay minerals; X-ray powder diffraction phase analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Clays are environmentally-friendly raw materials available in large quantities. Clay minerals, as the main components of clays, have specific structural properties and are therefore widely used in laboratory and industry. A large amount of fly ash waste comes from thermal power plants and coal combustion. The utilization of this waste material is a major focus in research on the development of environmentally-friendly ceramic materials. The aim from the viewpoint of the final properties of the ceramic product is to find the optimal maximum amount of fly ash in the ceramic mixture. A desirable task is to study the effect of clay minerals and other possible additives on calcination temperature, while saving conditions without damaging the ceramic body.

This Special Issue will include quality publications on the application of clay-mineral-supported waste fly ash to ceramic materials, with particular attention to processes developed using advanced clay-based ceramic materials.

Dr. Marta Valášková
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clays
  • fly ash
  • Thermal procedure
  • ceramics
  • structure
  • characterization

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Article
Clay/Fly Ash Bricks Evaluated in Terms of Kaolin and Vermiculite Precursors of Mullite and Forsterite, and Photocatalytic Decomposition of the Methanol–Water Mixture
Minerals 2023, 13(9), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13091114 - 23 Aug 2023
Viewed by 375
Abstract
This study focused on mullite-based and forsterite-based ceramic bricks fired at 1000 °C from mixtures of fly ash (40 mass%) and kaolins or vermiculites (60 mass%). The structural, physical, and mechanical properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, mercury porosimetry, thermogravimetry, [...] Read more.
This study focused on mullite-based and forsterite-based ceramic bricks fired at 1000 °C from mixtures of fly ash (40 mass%) and kaolins or vermiculites (60 mass%). The structural, physical, and mechanical properties were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, mercury porosimetry, thermogravimetry, and compressive strength. In the development of green-material-derived photocatalysts, we evaluated fly ash ceramic bricks based on kaolins and vermiculites, which deserve deeper research. Alkali potassium in the mixtures positively influenced the reduction of the firing temperature, shrinkage, small porosity, and high compressive strength of ceramic bricks. The crystallization of mullite in fly ash was observed on exotherm maxima from 813 to 1025 °C. Muscovite/illite admixture in kaolins precursor of mullite-based ceramics reduced the crystallization temperature of mullite by up to 70 °C. Vermiculite–hydrobiotite–phlogopite in mixed layers of a raw vermiculite precursor of forsterite-based ceramics controlled the formation of enstatite and forsterite in the temperature range from 736 ± 6 °C to 827 ± 6 °C. Mullite- and forsterite-based ceramic bricks were also investigated for photocatalytic hydrogen production. The photocatalytic generation of hydrogen in the presence of mullite-based ceramic bricks was positively correlated with the percentages of Fe2O3 in the lattice of mullites and in the presence of forsterite-based ceramics with the presence of diopside. Mullite-based ceramic produced the highest yield of hydrogen (320 µmol/gcat after 4 h of irradiation) in the presence of mullite with the highest 10.4% substitution of Fe2O3 in the lattice. The forsterite-based ceramic produced the highest hydrogen yields (354 µmol/gcat after 4 h of irradiation) over more active diopside than forsterite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II)
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Article
Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy of Mullite Ceramics Synthesized from Fly Ash and Kaolin
Minerals 2023, 13(7), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13070864 - 26 Jun 2023
Viewed by 573
Abstract
Infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize mullite ceramics prepared from fly ash and kaolin by annealing at 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200 °C, and 1300 °C. IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SiO4 tetrahedra and AlO6 octahedra in [...] Read more.
Infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize mullite ceramics prepared from fly ash and kaolin by annealing at 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200 °C, and 1300 °C. IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of SiO4 tetrahedra and AlO6 octahedra in samples. The presence of mullite has been confirmed at all temperatures. The presence of quartz has been confirmed up to a temperature of 1100 °C, and the presence of an amorphous form of SiO2 has been confirmed at temperatures of 1200 °C and 1300 °C. The transformation of quartz into the amorphous form of SiO2 at temperatures above 1100 °C is assumed. Transformation was performed on the percentage intensity decrease of the bending vibration of Si-O-Si (at about 450 cm−1) and Al-O-Si (at about 550 cm−1). Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of mullite at different stages of structural ordering (a well-ordered structure at a temperature of 1100 °C and a disordered structure at a temperature of 1300 °C). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II)
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Article
Study of Dendromass Ashes Fusibility with the Addition of Magnesite, Limestone and Alumina
Minerals 2023, 13(5), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13050631 - 30 Apr 2023
Viewed by 683
Abstract
The fusibility of ash from woodchip combustion is characterised in the present work. The impact of the increase in MgO, CaO, and Al2O3 content in the bio-ash on the classification of ash into categories according to slagging and fouling indices [...] Read more.
The fusibility of ash from woodchip combustion is characterised in the present work. The impact of the increase in MgO, CaO, and Al2O3 content in the bio-ash on the classification of ash into categories according to slagging and fouling indices was evaluated. The ash was characterized based on the chemical composition using slagging and fouling indices. However, these ash composition changes did not assign the ash into categories of the indices FU, SR, RS, and B/A (fouling, slagging, slag viscosity, basicity), with less ash inclination to slagging and fouling. The indices were primarily derived for ashes from coal combustion. The indices values characterizing the ash were compared with measured results of ash melting according to STN ISO 540. The measured ash fusibility values showed that the addition of magnesite, limestone, and alumina to dendro-ashes increases the DT (temperature of deformation), HT (temperature of hemisphere), and the AFI (ash fusibility index). There is no conformity between the values of the indices and the measurement of ash fusibility temperatures. In terms of temperatures in the combustion chamber, the measured sintering (Tsin) and DT are suitable for evaluating the tendency of ash to slagging and fouling as well as an accretion of ash particles sticking to the lining. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II)
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Article
The Corrosion Effect of Fly Ash from Biomass Combustion on Andalusite Refractory Materials
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030357 - 03 Mar 2023
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Abstract
The main problem affecting the life of refractory linings in furnaces is alkaline corrosion formed during biomass combustion, especially in systems with SiO2–Al2O3. This corrosion effect is very intensive compared to using conventional technologies designed for burning [...] Read more.
The main problem affecting the life of refractory linings in furnaces is alkaline corrosion formed during biomass combustion, especially in systems with SiO2–Al2O3. This corrosion effect is very intensive compared to using conventional technologies designed for burning traditional fuels. This study focuses on the development of a new type of andalusite refractory material with a higher corrosion resistance to K2CO3 and fly ash after biomass combustion. The original andalusite refractory material is labeled A60PT0, with an oxide content of 60 wt.% Al2O3 and 37 wt.% SiO2, a compressive strength parameter of 64 MPa, and an apparent porosity of 15%. In the experiment, four mixtures (labeled A60PT1–A60PT4) were modified primarily using the raw materials and granulometry. The fly ash was characterized by an X-ray diffraction analysis with the following phases: quartz, calcite, microcline, leucite, portlandite, and hematite. According to the X-ray fluorescence analysis, the samples contained the following oxides: 47 wt.% CaO, 12 wt.% K2O, 4.6 wt.% SiO2, 3.5 wt.% MgO, and some minority oxides such as P2O5, MgO, MnO, and Fe2O3 between 2 and 5 %. The tendency for slagging/fouling of the ash was determined with the help of the indexes B/A, TA, Kt, and Fu. The final material was a shaped andalusite refractory material labeled A60PT4 with a content of 65 wt.% Al2O3 and 36 wt.% SiO2. The properties of the andalusite material were a compressive strength of 106.9 MPa, an apparent porosity of 13%, and the recommended temperature of use up to 1300 °C. For corrosion testing, a static crucible test was performed according to the norm ČSN CEN/TS 15418 and the company’s internal regulation. The exposure time of the samples was 2 h and 5 h at temperatures of 1100 °C and 1400 °C for K2CO3 and ash, respectively. For the evaluation of tested samples, an X-ray powder differential analysis, an X-ray fluorescence analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II)
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Article
Evaluation of Linamon Red Clay, Salvador Black Cinder and Kapatagan Diatomaceous Earth of the Southern Philippines
Minerals 2023, 13(2), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020252 - 11 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2897
Abstract
The southern island of the Philippines is abundant in silicate minerals, including the province of Lanao del Norte. However, some of these resources in the region are untapped for use as raw materials in the production of various ceramic products for industrial, pharmaceutical, [...] Read more.
The southern island of the Philippines is abundant in silicate minerals, including the province of Lanao del Norte. However, some of these resources in the region are untapped for use as raw materials in the production of various ceramic products for industrial, pharmaceutical, and nanotechnology applications. These could include tiles, sanitary ware, dinnerware, insulating bricks, porcelain, membranes and coatings. Some of the explored minerals are the red clay in the municipality of Linamon, diatomaceous earth in Kapatagan and black cinder in Salvador. It is the aim of this study that these minerals are evaluated in terms of their physical and chemical properties so that these will be used for optimum application. The properties that were determined were their specific gravities, raw and fired surface colors, Atterberg limits, particle size distribution, thermal properties, morphologies and mineralogical compositions. Pellets were formed for each raw material and fired at two temperature levels 1000 °C and 1200 °C to evaluate their physical properties. Linamon red clay has a 38.88% cumulative passing size of 150 µm, and the black cinder of Salvador and diatomaceous earth of Kapatagan have cumulative passing sizes of 96.53% and 60.12% at 150-micron sieve, respectively. The common mineral contents of the three samples are montmorillonite, quartz and andesine. Black cinder fired at 1200 °C has the darkest shade of red with a greasy quasi-submetallic luster. It attained the highest fusion coverage on the platform among the three materials, which makes it a potential supplement or replacement for feldspar in clay-based triaxial materials for ceramic production. The diatomaceous earth has the potential to be a secondary clay content source and a good source of flux for a certain temperature range. Both the red clay and diatomaceous earth were classified as plastic materials that are suitable for brick production, and the red clay is also feasible for pottery production. These are a few of the features of the clay minerals in the region that present suitable properties for application as raw materials in the production of ceramic tiles and hollow ceramic products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clay Minerals and Waste Fly Ash Ceramics, Volume II)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

1. Title: Adsorption Properties of Fly Ash-Clay Composites

Authors: Barbora Doušová et al.

2. Title: Characterization and Renovation of Parterre Floor Tiles in the Pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk, Czech Republic 

Authors: Ivana Perná et al.

3. Title: Conductive Alumina-Silica Ceramics for Battery Applications

Authors: Gražyna Simha Martynková et al.

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