SnO_(2) Dense Ceramic Microwave Sintered with Low Resistivity

The Hall-Héroult process is used for alumina reduction by the use of graphite anodes even though it involves a high emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and several other organic compounds. Proposals have been made aiming at substituting graphite for a single-phase SnO2-based ceramic with low resistivity and chemical resistance to cryolite, which is characterized as an inconsumable anode, reducing pollutant emissions. To this end, a wide range of studies were carried out on SnO2-based ceramics modified with ZnO as a densification aid doped with the promoters of electrical conductivity such as Nb2O5, Al2O3 and Sb2O3 through a mixture of oxides and hybrid sintering in a microwave oven. The pressed pellets were sintered in a microwave oven up to 1050℃ under a constant heating rate of 10℃/min. After sintering, the density was determined by the Archimedes method, the phases were then characterized by X-ray diffraction, the microstructure and chemical composition resulting from the sintered SnO2-based ceramics were also investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and the electrical properties were determined by the measurements of the electric field x current density. A single-phase ceramic was obtained with a relative density of above 90% and electrical resistivity of 6.1 Ω·cm at room temperature. The ceramics obtained in this study could be a potential candidate as an inconsumable anode to replace the current fused coke used in the reduction of alumina.

Fe-doped olivine and char for in-bed elimination of gasification tars in an air-blown fluidised bed reactor coupled with oxidative hot gas filtration

Gasification experiments were carried out in a pilot scale fluid bed reactor operated under allothermal mode and low fluidisation regime with iron-doped olivine and char as catalyst for in-situ tar abatement.The catalyst combination resulted in a reduction of 50%in the overall tar yield with respect to the reference values.Furthermore,the integration of an oxidative Hot Gas Filtration unit downstream the gasification reactor led to a further reduction in overall tar yield and relatively clean gas was obtained(approx.1 g/Nm3,benzene-free).The tar dew point of the resulting producer gas was estimated to 80℃,only 40℃ above the threshold value recommended for its valorisation in standard internal combustion engines.Moreover,catalyst elutriation and char hold-up took place to a large extent inside the reactor.The analysis of catalyst samples at different Time-On-Stream(TOS)revealed:(i)a considerable loss of iron oxides during the first hour of test because of the interparticle mechanical attrition(mostly surface abrasion)and partial reduction of hematite to magnetite and wustite but,stable composition at higher TOS,(ii)the loss of the iron oxide coverage of Fe/olivine particles and the formation of agglomerates with increasing TOS and,(iii)the amount of carbon deposited in the surface of the Fe/olivine particles increased with TOS,but in any case,these carbon deposits can be completely oxidized above 650℃.