Changes in mineralogical and leaching properties of converter steel slag resulting from accelerated carbonation at low CO2 pressure

Steel slag can be applied as substitute for natural aggregates in construction applications. The material imposes a high pH (typically 12.5) and low redox potential (Eh), which may lead to environmental problems in specific application scenarios. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of accelerated steel slag carbonation, at relatively low pCO₂ pressure (0.2 bar), to improve the environmental pH and the leaching properties of steel slag, with specific focus on the leaching of vanadium. Carbonation experiments are performed in laboratory columns with steel slag under water-saturated and -unsaturated conditions and temperatures between 5 and 90 °C. Two types of steel slag are tested; free lime containing (K3) slag and K1 slag with a very low free lime content. The fresh and carbonated slag samples are investigated using a combination of leaching experiments, geochemical modelling of leaching mechanisms and microscopic/mineralogical analysis, in order to identify the major processes that control the slag pH and resulting V leaching. The major changes in the amount of sequestered CO₂ and the resulting pH reduction occurred within 24 h, the free lime containing slag (K3-slag) being more prone to carbonation than the slag with lower free lime content (K1-slag). While carbonation at these conditions was found to occur predominantly at the surface of the slag grains, the formation of cracks was observed in carbonated K3 slag, suggesting that free lime in the interior of slag grains had also reacted. The pH of the K3 slag (originally pH ± 12.5) was reduced by about 1.5 units, while the K1 slag showed a smaller decrease in pH from about 11.7 to 11.1. However, the pH reduction after carbonation of the K3 slag was observed to lead to an increased V-leaching. Vanadium leaching from the K1 slag resulted in levels above the limit values of the Dutch Soil Quality Decree, for both the untreated and carbonated slag. V-leaching from the carbonated K3 slag remained below these limit values at the relatively high pH that remained after carbonation. The V-bearing di-Ca silicate (C2S) phase has been identified as the major source of the V-leaching. It is shown that the dissolution of this mineral is limited in fresh steel slag, but strongly enhanced by carbonation, which causes the observed enhanced release of V from the K3 slag. The obtained insights in the mineral transformation reactions and their effect on pH and V-leaching provide guidance for further improvement of an accelerated carbonation technology.     

Preparation of glass-ceramics from molten steel slag using liquid-liquid mixing method

A novel approach to prepare glass-ceramics from molten steel slag (MSS) was proposed. In laboratory, the water-quenched steel slag was melted at 1350 °C to simulate the MSS. A mixture of additive powders in wt.% (55 quartz powder, 5 Na₂O, 16 emery powder, 15 CaO, 8 MgO, 1 TiO₂) were melted into liquid at 1350 °C separately. Then the MSS and the molten additives were mixed homogeneously in order to obtain parent glass melt. The proportion of MSS in the melt was 50 wt.%. The melt was subsequently cast, annealed, heat-treated and transformed into glass-ceramics. Their microstructure and crystallization behavior were analyzed. The samples exhibited excellent properties and displayed bulk crystallization. The major crystallized phase was diopside ((Fe_0.35Al_0.20Mg_0.44)Ca_0.96(Fe_0.08Si_0.70Al_0.20)₂O_6.12), which was uniformly distributed in the microstructure. The novel approach may help iron and steel industry achieve zero disposal of steel slag with utilization of the heat energy of the MSS.     

Determination of zinc speciation in basic oxygen furnace flying dust by chemical extractions and X-ray spectroscopy

There is a growing concern regarding the environmental and public health risks associated with airborne particulate matter (PM). The basic oxygen furnace is one of the most important atmospheric dust sources of the steel manufacturing process. It emits dust enriched in heavy metal such as Zn, which is assumed to contribute to the toxic potential of atmospheric PM. Dust collected before and after the filtration system was analyzed to determine Zn speciation. To this end, a variety of analytical tools were used and a sequential extraction protocol has been specifically developed for iron and steel dust. The Zn speciation results obtained by EXAFS and sequential extraction were in excellent agreement. Before filtration, the speciation of Zn in BOF was 43% ZnFe₂O₄, 23% ZnCO₃ and 16% ZnO. The same species were detected after filtration with different proportions. BOF dust after filtration contains more soluble Zn phases which may play a role in the toxic effects of the emissions.     

Ecotoxicological evaluation of industrial port of Venice (Italy) sediment samples after a decontamination treatment

This work assesses the ecotoxicological effects of polluted sediment after a decontamination treatment process using a new sediment washing technique. Sediment samples were collected from four sites in Marghera Port industrial channels (Venice, Italy). Ecotoxicological evaluations were performed with Vibrio fischeri and Crassostrea gigas bioassays. Whole sediment and elutriate were deemed as the most suitable environmental matrices for this study. Toxicity scores developed in the Lagoon of Venice for V. fischeri on whole sediment and for C. gigas on elutriate were considered for the final ranking of samples. Ecotoxicological results showed that the treated sediment samples presented both acute and sub-chronic toxicities, which were mainly attributed to the presence of some remaining chemicals such as metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The acute toxicity ranged from low to medium, while the sub-chronic one from absent to very high, suggesting that treated sediments could not be reused in direct contact with seawater.     

浅析广州港集装箱清洗废水处理及对策

集装箱运输业快速发展造成清洗集装箱废水量的增加。文中主要介绍了广州港集装箱清洗废水处理流程及原理，提出了存在的问题及其对策。     

Australian junior exploration floats, 2001–06, and their implications for IPOs

An analysis of 179 junior exploration floats, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) between July 2001 and June 2006, helped to build a basic understanding of the strategy and business structure of these companies. The “typical” junior explorer raised A$4 million at initial public offering (IPO) to finance a 2-year, mainly greenfields exploration program. The capital raised at IPO entitled its investors to approximately half of the company, with the balance in the hands of the promoters, vendors and/or seed capital investors. Of the A$4 million raised at IPO, it intended to spend approximately two-thirds on exploration, while the remainder was absorbed in corporate overheads and the costs of the IPO. Once these were paid, ongoing corporate overheads averaged approximately 28% of its total operational expenditure. However, given an average total annual expenditure of approximately A$2.6 million, most juniors held insufficient capital reserves to meet operational costs beyond a time frame of 2 years. As at October 2006, 9% of the companies were in the process of mine construction, whereas 6% had made it to producer status. The lead time from listing to production ranged from 1.5 to 53 months, giving a median of 28 months.     

On The Research of Foreign and Domestic Human Capital Theory

1INTRODUCTION Human Capital Theory(HCT)'s idea origin recalls westernclassical political economics in the eighteen century.HCTcame into being in the middle and later periods of the20century,sprang up in the1960s and1970s,was introducedinto China in the1980s and is still one of the hotspotsin economic research.Foreign and domestic scholars havemade a lot of deep researches and important achievements.2FOREIGN RESEARCHIn the1950s,facing many"economic enigma"such as"Solow residual"an…     

火灾环境下具有弹性支座钢构件的稳定性能

根据弹性稳定理论原理研究了具有弹性支座钢结构构件在火灾环境下的静力特性问题 ,导出了高温下钢构件的静力稳定临界荷载和长度计算式 ,并讨论了温度、杆件的侧向弹簧刚度、杆长、保护层厚度等因素对杆件静力稳定临界荷载和长度的影响 ,分析表明 ,杆件的侧向弹簧刚度、杆长、保护层厚度对杆件的稳定承载力影响较大 ,并探讨了在实际工程中如何减小结构失稳的问题。     

黄骅港三期筒仓防煤体高温对策研究

黄骅港三期是单个容量3万吨共24座筒仓的超大型群仓储煤系统,储煤主要来自神华集团所属煤矿,少部分为外购协作煤,多属易自燃煤种。为更有效控制火灾隐患,通过工艺流程分析及危险因素提取,试运营期间数据分析等,研究了致使煤体高温的危险因素和对策。发现运输过程中出现因雨淋而产生润湿热,因粉尘积聚发热的危险;筒仓储煤曾出现数天内温度从10℃升高到45℃,筒仓内有毒有害气体可能超限的危险;输煤皮带可能跑偏引起摩擦生热的危险等。试运营期间针对性采取了喷洒抑尘剂,设置警报系统及检测装置,加强皮带机监控和管理等安全措施。