The new phosphogypsum (PG) waste management policy allowed to reduce the negative environmental impact of this residue by finding better alternatives uses with an extremely limited radiological impact. Building materi...The new phosphogypsum (PG) waste management policy allowed to reduce the negative environmental impact of this residue by finding better alternatives uses with an extremely limited radiological impact. Building material could be one of these alternatives that could lead to the production of final products with good mechanical properties and very limited radionuclides content. The optimization of the radioactive levels in the building materials when PG is used for its production requires the previous knowledge of the content of naturally occurring radionuclides in the PG waste. This article aims the radioactive characterization of two different PG sources (from Spain (Fertiberia S.A., Huelva) and Tunisia (Sfax), before being incorporated in building materials. For this purpose, the natural selected radionuclides content belonging to uranium and thorium decay series and 40K was determined, by means of two different methods: i) gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium detectors and ii) laser-induced kinetic phosphorimetry (KPA-11 Chemcheck Instruments Inc., Richland, WA). Also, the semiquantitative chemical composition, the mineralogical study and the morphological aspect of the PG samples were analysed. The results obtained from both techniques show that 226Ra and 210Po are the main source of the radioactivity in both studied PG samples. However, PG samples from Tunisia present low natural radionuclide levels (30.7 Bq?kg–1 average value for 238U, 188 Bq?kg–1(226Ra), 163 Bq?kg–1(210Pb), 12.4 Bq?kg–1 (232Th)) compared to the level of natural radionuclides in PG samples from Huelva (102 Bq?kg–1 average value for 238U, 520 Bq?kg–1(226Ra), 881 Bq?kg-1(210Pb) and 8 Bq?kg-1 (232Th). Both PG fulfil European Commission Recommendation (ECR) for the maximum activity concentrations of naturally-occurring radionuclides for industrial by product used in building materials in the European Union.展开更多
Aluminum recycling is an important activity that allows returning this metal to the market saving energy and resources. This activity generates slag and dross, both hazardous materials, which are recovered by other in...Aluminum recycling is an important activity that allows returning this metal to the market saving energy and resources. This activity generates slag and dross, both hazardous materials, which are recovered by other industries (tertiary sector). In that process, new wastes are produced, but most of them are disposed in security storage facilities because of their hazardousness and scarce marketable value. In Spain, the statistical data analysis on waste reveals that this sector is increasing every year. This study aims to characterize the wastes generated by the tertiary aluminum industries in Spain. Samples were collected in different aluminum recycling industries and characterized by chemical analyses, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and particle size determination. Wastes rich in aluminum oxide and alkaline elements also comprise metallic aluminum and aluminum nitride. Such components are the main responsible for the waste hazardousness since they generate toxic gases in the presence of water. Besides, their fine granulometry (x50 < 30 μm) also contributes highly to the hazardousness.展开更多
The dehydration process of gypsum rock was studied under concentrated solar energy by using a Fresnel lens with power density of 260 Wcm-2. Temperatures higher than 700。C were attained for 1 min of solar exposure. Th...The dehydration process of gypsum rock was studied under concentrated solar energy by using a Fresnel lens with power density of 260 Wcm-2. Temperatures higher than 700。C were attained for 1 min of solar exposure. The effect of grain size of sample and radiation exposure time on the formation of bassanite and anhydrite was studied by XRD. The complete transformation of dihydrate into hemihydrate and/or anhydrate phases is complete for the finer size sample. Plaster composed of 92.7% of anhydrite and 7.3% of bassanite was obtained for 5 min of solar exposure. Morphological and textural modifications were followed by SEM and interferometric/confocal profilometer.展开更多
文摘The new phosphogypsum (PG) waste management policy allowed to reduce the negative environmental impact of this residue by finding better alternatives uses with an extremely limited radiological impact. Building material could be one of these alternatives that could lead to the production of final products with good mechanical properties and very limited radionuclides content. The optimization of the radioactive levels in the building materials when PG is used for its production requires the previous knowledge of the content of naturally occurring radionuclides in the PG waste. This article aims the radioactive characterization of two different PG sources (from Spain (Fertiberia S.A., Huelva) and Tunisia (Sfax), before being incorporated in building materials. For this purpose, the natural selected radionuclides content belonging to uranium and thorium decay series and 40K was determined, by means of two different methods: i) gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium detectors and ii) laser-induced kinetic phosphorimetry (KPA-11 Chemcheck Instruments Inc., Richland, WA). Also, the semiquantitative chemical composition, the mineralogical study and the morphological aspect of the PG samples were analysed. The results obtained from both techniques show that 226Ra and 210Po are the main source of the radioactivity in both studied PG samples. However, PG samples from Tunisia present low natural radionuclide levels (30.7 Bq?kg–1 average value for 238U, 188 Bq?kg–1(226Ra), 163 Bq?kg–1(210Pb), 12.4 Bq?kg–1 (232Th)) compared to the level of natural radionuclides in PG samples from Huelva (102 Bq?kg–1 average value for 238U, 520 Bq?kg–1(226Ra), 881 Bq?kg-1(210Pb) and 8 Bq?kg-1 (232Th). Both PG fulfil European Commission Recommendation (ECR) for the maximum activity concentrations of naturally-occurring radionuclides for industrial by product used in building materials in the European Union.
文摘Aluminum recycling is an important activity that allows returning this metal to the market saving energy and resources. This activity generates slag and dross, both hazardous materials, which are recovered by other industries (tertiary sector). In that process, new wastes are produced, but most of them are disposed in security storage facilities because of their hazardousness and scarce marketable value. In Spain, the statistical data analysis on waste reveals that this sector is increasing every year. This study aims to characterize the wastes generated by the tertiary aluminum industries in Spain. Samples were collected in different aluminum recycling industries and characterized by chemical analyses, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and particle size determination. Wastes rich in aluminum oxide and alkaline elements also comprise metallic aluminum and aluminum nitride. Such components are the main responsible for the waste hazardousness since they generate toxic gases in the presence of water. Besides, their fine granulometry (x50 < 30 μm) also contributes highly to the hazardousness.
文摘The dehydration process of gypsum rock was studied under concentrated solar energy by using a Fresnel lens with power density of 260 Wcm-2. Temperatures higher than 700。C were attained for 1 min of solar exposure. The effect of grain size of sample and radiation exposure time on the formation of bassanite and anhydrite was studied by XRD. The complete transformation of dihydrate into hemihydrate and/or anhydrate phases is complete for the finer size sample. Plaster composed of 92.7% of anhydrite and 7.3% of bassanite was obtained for 5 min of solar exposure. Morphological and textural modifications were followed by SEM and interferometric/confocal profilometer.
