Issue 11, 2018

Acidic processing of fly ash: chemical characterization, morphology, and immersion freezing

Abstract

Fly ash can undergo aging in the atmosphere through interactions with sulfuric acid and water. These reactions could result in chemical and physical changes that could affect the cloud condensation or ice nucleation activity of fly ash particles. To explore this process, different water and acid treated fly ash types were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), selected area diffraction (SAED), and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Then, their immersion freezing activity was assessed. With water and acid treatment, a wide variety of metals were leached, depending on the starting composition of the fly ash. Acid treatment resulted in the formation of gypsum, Ca(SO4)·2H2O, for fly ash containing Ca as well as morphological changes. The immersion freezing activity was also assessed for each fly ash system to compare the effects of water and acid processing. Our results support the assertion that fly ash can serve as a cloud condensation or ice nucleus to affect climate.

Graphical abstract: Acidic processing of fly ash: chemical characterization, morphology, and immersion freezing

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 juil. 2018
Accepted
11 oct. 2018
First published
12 oct. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2018,20, 1581-1592

Author version available

Acidic processing of fly ash: chemical characterization, morphology, and immersion freezing

D. J. Losey, S. K. Sihvonen, D. P. Veghte, E. Chong and M. A. Freedman, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2018, 20, 1581 DOI: 10.1039/C8EM00319J

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