The biogeochemical distribution of trace elements in the Indian Ocean

The present review deals with the distributions of dissolved trace metals in the Indian Ocean in relation with biological, chemical and hydrographic processes. The literature data-base is extremely limited and almost no information is available on particle processes and input and output processes of trace metals in the Indian Ocean basin and therefore much research is needed to expand our understanding of the marine chemistries of most trace metals. An area of special interest for future research is the Arabian Sea. The local conditions (upwelling induced productivity, restricted bottom water circulation and suboxic intermediate waters) create a natural laboratory for studying trace metal chemistry.     

Characteristics of Coal Ashes in Yanzhou Mining District and Distribution of Trace Elements in Them

In the process of combustion of coal organic and inorganic materials in it will undergo a complex variation.Part of thew will become volatiles and,together with coal smoke,enter into atmosphere,some will remain in micro-particulates such as ash and dust and find their way into atmosphere in the form of solid particles,and the rest will be retained in ash and slag.Coal ashes are the residues of organic and inorganic substances in coal left after coal combustion and the compostition of coal ashes in dependent on that of minerals and organic matter in coal.This paper deals with the chemical composition of coal ashes,the distribution of trace elements in them and their petrological characteristics,and also studies the relationship between the yield of coal ashes and the distribution of trace elements.In addition,a preliminary study in also undertaken on the factors that affect the chemical composition of coal ashes.As viewed from the analyses of coal ash samples collected from the Yanzhou mining district,it can be seen clearly that coal ashes from the region studied are composed chiefly of crystalline materials,glassy materials and uncombusted organic matter and the major chemical compositions are SiO2,Al2O3,Fe2O3,and CaO,as well as minor amounts of SO3,PWO5,Na2O,K2O and TiO2.During the combustion of coal,its trace elements will be redistributed and most of them are enriched in coal ashes.At the same time,the concentrations of the trace elements in flying ash are much higher than those of bottom ash,i.e.,with decreasing particle-size of coal ashes their concentrations will become higher and higher.So the contents of trace elements are negatively proportional to the particle-size of coal ashes.There has been found a positive correlation between the trace elements Th.V.Zn,Cu and Pb and the yield of coal ashes while a negative correlation between Cl and the yield of coal ashes.     

高铝粉煤灰中部分主微量元素的分布规律研究

本文旨在研究部分主微量元素在高铝粉煤灰中的分布规律,从而为其资源化利用提供科学依据。首先根据高铝粉煤灰的物相组成特点采用新的分离方法将之分离为三个相(或相组合):铁质微珠、莫来石-刚玉相以及玻璃相;然后分别用化学分析和ICP-MS测试主微量元素在高铝粉煤灰、铁质微珠以及莫来石-刚玉相中的含量,并结合相关数据计算出这些元素在玻璃相中的含量。结果表明,除Al、Mn外,其他元素均在玻璃相中有不同程度的富集;除Al外,其他元素则在莫来石-刚玉相中有不同程度的贫化;除Ti以外的铁族元素以及除Ga、Pb以外的金属成矿元素均在铁质微珠中富集,其他元素则在其中贫化。     

Mobility of trace and potentially harmful elements in the environment from high sulfur Indian coal mines

Coal mine rejects and sulfide bearing coals are prone to acid mine drainage (AMD) formation due to aqueous weathering. These acidic effluents contain dissolved trace and potentially harmful elements (PHEs) that have considerable impact on the environment. The behavior of these elements in AMD is mainly controlled by pH. The focus of the present study is to investigate aqueous leaching of mine rejects for prediction of acid producing potential, rates of weathering, and release of PHEs in mine drainage. Mine reject (MR) and coal samples from the active mine sites of Meghalaya, India typically have high S contents (1.8–5.7% in MR and 1.7–4.7% in coals) with 75–90% of the S in organic form and enrichment of most of the PHEs in rejects. Aqueous kinetic leaching experiments on mine rejects showed high acid producing potential and release of trace and potentially harmful elements. The elements (Sb, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, V and Zn) in mine sample leachates are compared with those in mine waters. The concentrations of Al, Si, P, K, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb are found to increase with leaching time and are negatively correlated with pH of the solution. The processes controlling the release of these elements are acid leaching, precipitation and adsorption. The critical loads of PHEs in water affected by AMD are calculated by comparing their concentrations with those of regulatory levels. The Enrichment Factors (EFs) and soil pollution indices (SPIs) for the elements have shown that PHEs from coal and mine reject samples are mobilized into the nearby environment and are enriched in the associated soil and sediment.     

A study of trace elements in lithotypes of some selected Indian coals

Ashes of the lithotypes from some Indian coals were analyzed by emission spectroscopy for some selected elements. Based on the combined concentration and differential fixation, the elements Pb and Co appear to be supplied by the woody portion of the proto-coal material whereas Ga, Nb, Ni, Cr and In can be attributed to the non-woody portions of the proto-coal. On the other hand, Cu, Mo and part of the available Cr appear to come from both organic and inorganic sources, whereas V, Mn, Sr, La and Ba have been attributed to an extraneous inorganic source. The differential fixation of the trace elements appears to be mainly dependent on the physicochemical environment of the basin.     

A comparative evaluation of minerals and trace elements in the ashes from lignite, coal refuse, and biomass fired power plants

Coal being a limited source of energy, extraction of energy from other sources like lignite, coal-refuse, and biomass is being attempted worldwide. The minerals and inorganic elements present in fuel feeds pose different technological and environmental concerns. Lignite ash, refuse ash, and biomass ash collected from Indian power plants burning lignite, coal-refuse, and mustard stalk, respectively, were analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics and trace elements. The lignite ash has high SiO₂, CaO, MgO, Al₂O_3, and SO₃; the refuse ash has high SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃, but low SO₃; the biomass ash has high SiO₂ (but low Al₂O₃), and high CaO, MgO, K₂O, Na₂O, SO₃, and P₂O₅. A substantial presence of chloride (2.1%) was observed in the biomass ash. Quartz is the most abundant mineral species. Other minerals are mullite, hematite, gehlenite, anhydrite, and calcite in the lignite ash; orthoclase in the refuse ash; albite, sanidine, gehlenite, anhydrite, and calcite in the biomass ash. Ashes with high concentrations (> 100 mg/kg) of trace elements are: lignite ash (V < La < Mn < Cr < Ni < Nd < Ba < Ce, Zn < Sr); refuse ash (Cr < Ce < V < Rb < Mn < Sr, Zn < Ba); biomass ash (Cu < Zn < Ba, Sr). Based on Earth crust normalization, Co, Ni, As, Se, Mo, Zn, Pb, U, and REEs (except Pr and Er) are enriched in the lignite ash; molybdenum, Zn, Cs, Pb, Th, U, La, Ce, and Lu in the refuse ash; and Mo, Zn, Sr, Cs, Pb, and Lu in the biomass ash. Elements As, Zn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Cr, V, Ba, Sr, and REEs are correlated with Al, indicating the possibilities of their association with aluminum silicates minerals. Similarly, barium, Cs, Th, and U are correlated with iron oxides; molybdenum and Sr may also be associated with sulfates and chlorides. Due to the alkaline nature of these ashes, the high concentrations of As and Se in the lignite ash; molybdenum in the biomass ash; and Se in the refuse ash may pose environmental concerns.     

Technical Note Reactive silica and strength of fly ashes

The use of fly ash in geotechnical engineering depends greatly on its pozzolanic reactivity. Though many factors influence the reactivity of fly ash it is well recognized that reactive silica and lime content play a major role. A new, accurate and reliable method for the determination of reactive silica content of fly ash has been established. The reactive silica content, obtained as acid soluble silica in about 2 to 3 N hydrochloric acid, is found to correlate well with unconfined compressive strength of fly ashes. The reactive silica content of fly ash is also important in the stabilization of soils using fly ash. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

A reconnaissance survey of the distribution of some trace elements in Indian bauxite

The results of spectrographic analysis of 500 bauxite samples from 25 deposits show that the distribution of Cr, V, Zr and Ga is completely randomised in accordance with the model of complex, polycyclic sequence of bauxite genesis, deduced by other workers on the basis of mineralogical and major element studies. The same process of residual weathering, which generates a systematic enrichment and fractionation of major insoluble elements causes a random dispersion, notwithstanding the overall enrichment, of the insoluble trace elements due to seasonal variations in pH and in direction of movement of the pore water.     

真空预压联合石灰稳定法改良淤泥土试验研究

在工程用土资源越来越紧张和环境日益恶化的情况下淤泥资源化利用成为一个亟待解决的问题。通过向河底淤泥中掺入一定量的生石灰,再用真空预压结合外加剂木质素磺酸钙来改善土体的渗透、强度和变形等特性,总结并分析了掺木量对稳定排水量,稳定沉降量、强度、孔隙等的影响以及真空预压后石灰稳定土龄期下土体强度的变化规律。试验结果表明,抽真空后改良土具有较低含水率,土体强度增长较大,孔隙较小,后期沉降较小,加固土体以满足填筑用土要求,经济性分析表明该法是可以接受的。     

煤及其燃烧产物飞灰和底灰中稀土元素地球化学特征及集散规律

采用ICP—MS法测试了褐煤、肥煤和无烟煤以及在不同燃烧条件下获取的飞灰、底灰等29个样品的稀土元素含量;分析了稀土元素地球化学特征。结果表明,不同煤种的稀土元素含量不同,相同煤种在不同燃烧条件下获取的飞灰、底灰中的稀土元素含量也不同;褐煤、肥煤、无烟煤及其燃煤产物飞灰、底灰的稀土元素分布模式呈左高右低的宽缓的“V”型曲线;Eu存在明显负异常。研究了燃煤过程中稀土元素的分布及集散规律,稀土元素在飞灰、底灰中的含量比原煤有明显提高,其增加幅度为几倍至20多倍不等,表明煤炭燃烧后稀土元素在飞灰、底灰中进一步聚集;飞灰和底灰中稀土元素含量、飞灰和底灰对煤的稀土元素含量比和富集因子以及飞灰对底灰的稀土元素含量比和富集因子等,不仅与原煤中稀土元素有直接关系,而且还受锅炉燃烧方式、燃烧温度(炉温)等人为因素的影响。     

石灰稳定红黏土强度的长期碳化效应

碳化效应是石灰稳定土强度增长机理之一,但长期的碳化作用是否对其强度一直起促进作用？如果没有压实作用,碳化效果到底如何？这些关键问题还没有得到充分的论证。采用灰土拌和后击实养护和养护后再击实的不同制样方法,通过承载比CBR试验,探讨压实作用对碳化效应的影响。制备4种初始含水率的击实试样,开展碳酸溶液和纯水浸泡下的CBR试验,论证长期碳化对石灰稳定土强度的作用效果。结果表明,自然养护90 d后再击实试样的CBR值明显低于击实后养护的试样;初始含水率为34%时前者约为后者的12倍。另外,碳酸溶液浸泡15 d后的试样CBR值均小于纯水浸泡的试样CBR值,但初始含水率越大其影响程度越小,当初始含水率大于34%后两者之间的强度基本没有差别。为进一步佐证长期碳化作用能弱化石灰稳定土的强度,开展不同浸泡时间的无侧限抗压强度试验,发现石灰土的强度呈现先增大后减少的变化趋势,再次证实长期的碳化作用弱化石灰稳定土的强度。最后,利用热重分析法测试经过碳酸溶液浸泡前后的石灰稳定土,发现长期碳化溶解了部分石灰土中的碳酸钙和硅酸盐类胶结物。借助扫描电镜图片和孔隙尺寸分布曲线,从微观角度揭示不同击实和养护方式对石灰稳定土强度的影响机制。     

石灰稳定膨胀土的效用及其施工质量控制

膨胀土的胀缩可引起地基的变形，甚至危及构筑物的安全。对于膨胀土路段，路基的稳定是工程建设成功的关键。在论述石灰稳定土加固机理的基础上，结合工程实例，论述了膨胀土路段石灰稳定的施工要点及石灰稳定膨胀土路段的施工质量控制。     

Behavior of expansive soils stabilized with fly ash

Expansive soils cause serious problem in the civil engineering practice due to swell and shrinkage upon wetting and drying. Disposal of fly ash, which is an industrial waste in both cost-effective and environment-friendly way receives high attention in China. In this study, the potential use and the effectiveness of expansive soils stabilization using fly ash and fly ash-lime as admixtures are evaluated. The test results show that the plasticity index, activity, free swell, swell potential, swelling pressure, and axial shrinkage percent decreased with an increase in fly ash or fly ash-lime content. With the increase of the curing time for the treated soil, the swell potential and swelling pressure decreased. Soils immediately treated with fly ash show no significant change in the unconfined compressive strength. However, after 7 days curing of the fly ash treated soils, the unconfined compressive strength increased significantly. The relationship between the plasticity index and swell-shrinkage properties for pre-treated and post-treated soils is discussed.     

Phase–mineral and chemical composition of composite samples from feed coals,bottom ashes and fly ashes at the Soma power station,Turkey

The phase–mineral and chemical composition of feed coals (FCs) and their bottom ashes (BAs) and fly ashes (FAs) produced in the Soma thermo-electric power station (TPS), Turkey, was characterized. FCs are high-ash Soma subbituminous coals abundant in moisture and Ca, and depleted in S. The inorganic composition (in decreasing order of significance) of FCs includes calcite, quartz, kaolinite, illite+muscovite, chlorite, plagioclase, gypsum, pyrite, montmorillonite, K-feldspar, dolomite, siderite, ankerite, opal, and volcanic glass. The results for 57 elements studied show that Ca>Nb>Cs>(V, Li) have significantly higher contents in FC ashes than the respective Clarke values for coal ashes. The water-soluble residues isolated from FCs include gypsum, calcite, inorganic amorphous matter, Ca–Mg–Na–K phase, and opal. These residues are enriched in Na>Se>S>B>Mg>Mo>Sr>Ca>K. The phase–mineral composition of BAs and FAs includes mainly glass, quartz, char, mullite, plagioclase, calcite, and portlandite; and, to a lesser extent, illite+muscovite, melilite, hematite, anhydrite, lime, cristobalite, kaolinite, and magnetite. Minor amounts of K-feldspar, dolomite, ankerite, Fe-spinel, gypsum, and Ca–K–Na phase also occur in BAs and FAs. FAs are enriched in inorganic matter, glass, cristobalite, mullite, Fe oxides, lime, and anhydrite, and depleted in mineral matter, char, quartz, clay minerals, melilite, portlandite, and carbonates in comparison with BAs. Only Se is significantly enriched in BAs and FAs compared to FC ashes. Most of the trace elements (in particular As, Bi, Cd, Ge, Pb, Sn, Tl, and W) are more abundant in FAs, while BAs are more enriched in Ca, Cs, Fe, Ho, Mn, P, Sc, Se and Tb. Significant percentages (11–59%) of elements initially present in FCs, namely S>Sb>Sn>Ta>Mo>Bi>Zn>Ni>Na>(Lu, Tm)>B, were emitted by stack emissions and not captured by the cleaning equipment in the Soma TPS. Some genetic features, properties, possible environmental concerns, and potential utilization directions related to FCs, BAs, and FAs are also discussed.     

石灰改良红层无侧限抗压强度试验研究

红层是一种特殊岩土,作为路基材料时,常会导致不均匀沉陷、翻浆冒泥等病害。为改善其力学性质,工程上通常掺入一定剂量的石灰（Ca（OH）₂）进行改良。由于降水-蒸发的周期性变化,运营期间反复干湿循环作用对路基土的工程性质造成较大影响。基于此,结合室内无侧限抗压强度试验,研究了干湿循环作用对不同掺量的石灰改良红层无侧限抗压强度的影响。结果表明：在最佳含水率下,石灰改良红层的无侧限抗压强度随石灰掺量的增加而增大;干湿循环作用对改良红层无侧限抗压强度的影响与石灰掺量有关,石灰掺量较低时,改良红层的抗压强度随干湿循环次数的增加而减小,石灰掺量较高时,改良红层的无侧限抗压强度随干湿循环次数的增加而显著增大;未改良红层塑性较大,试样均为塑性鼓胀破坏,掺入石灰后,红层强度增大,脆性增强,呈脆性剪切破坏,经历干湿循环作用后,石灰改良红层试样呈多缝锥形破坏。     

Removal of trace elements from landfill leachate by calcite precipitation

Spontaneous precipitation of secondary calcite (CaCO₃) has been observed in 25 samples of landfill leachate-polluted stream waters. During the 6-month precipitation experiment, the formation of calcite acts as a principal trace-element scavenging process. The concentrations of Fe, Sr, Ba and Mn and other trace elements in solution significantly decreased as calcite formed during the experiments. The PHREEQC-2 geochemical code indicated high supersaturation of the initial leachate-polluted waters with respect to calcite. The chemical/mineralogical study (SEM/EDS, XRD, ICP MS) revealed that this newly formed calcite contains considerable amounts of metals and metalloids removed from solution. Such a geochemical process can be considered to be important for spontaneous decontamination in landfill-affected environments (stream sediments, soils) or landfill technical facilities (settling basins). This removal takes place especially during dry periods with low rain precipitation, when the landfill waters exhibit both higher alkalinity and higher trace element concentrations.     

Relative performance of lime stabilized amended clay liners in different pore fluids

Successful design of soil liner and covers for landfills and waste impoundments involves selection of liner material and assessment of chemical compatibility of the liner material. In this work locally available materials with different mineralogy have been evaluated from the viewpoint of liner application. Many local soils may not meet the requirements of liner material; often it is necessary to amend these soils with commercially available processed bentonite. Clay liners may be attacked by chemical waste or leachate, concentrated organic chemicals can attack compacted clay effectively destroying the characteristics of liner material. Thus the main aim of this work has been to assess the suitability of different types of locally available materials for their potential use as liners for waste containment facilities. The materials studied are kaolinitic red earth, illite and fly ash. Based on literature survey and experimental work in this laboratory, 20% by weight of bentonite has been chosen for amending selected materials. Addition of 20% bentonite to selected liner material improved the hydraulic conductivity and adsorption capacity of the amended mixture but, reduced the volume stability. To improve the volume stability of the amended material and to have better resistance towards chemicals attack, stabilizing the amended mixture with 1% by weight of lime has been considered. The relative advantages and disadvantages of four materials namely; red earth with 20% bentonite, illite with 20% bentonite, fly ash with 20% bentonite and illite alone, stabilized with 1% by weight of lime were brought out. The chemical compatibility of the materials to electrolyte solution (0.5 N NaCl), alkaline solution (0.5 N NaOH), acid (0.5 N HCl) and organic fluid (CCl₄) has been studied. The relative efficiency of the selected materials with selected pore fluids was compared.     

Phase-mineral and chemical composition of fractions separated from composite fly ashes at the Soma power station,Turkey

The phase-mineral and chemical composition of six fractions recovered from two fly ashes (FAs) produced in the Soma power station (Turkey) was characterized to predict their possible environmental concerns and potential utilization directions. A combination of conventional separation procedures including sieving, hand picking, sink–float and magnetic separations, as well as leaching and evaporation, was used to isolate the following fractions: (1) char concentrates (CCs); (2) light fractions (<1 g cm⁻³) (LFs); (3) water-soluble residues (WRs); (4) magnetic fractions (MFs); (5) nonmagnetic coarse-grained fractions (>63 μm) (NCFs); and (6) nonmagnetic fine-grained fractions (<63 μm) (NFFs). CCs (3.3–3.4%) are composed of char (61–68%) and some inorganic phases, and are highly enriched in U>S>Mn>Mo>Fe>Sb. LFs (0.4–0.8%) contain porous cenosphere, spongy, and vesicular char types (21–54%) impregnated by calcite, anhydrite, portlandite, and clay minerals. These fractions show high concentrations of Sb>Se>As. WRs (1.7–2.6%) consist of gypsum, portlandite, Ca oxalate, and calcite (92–98%), and are highly enriched in water-soluble Sb>Mo>S>Ca. The greatest amounts (1–37%) leached from FAs reveal Sb>Mo>S>Ca>Sr>Se>(B, Na)>Li. MFs (1.4–2.3%) are concentrated in magnetite, hematite, and Fe-spinel (31–39%), and are highly enriched in Mn>Fe>Co>Cu>Ni>Zn>(Mo, Yb)>(Lu, Tm, Y)>(Er, Ho, Mg)>Sb. NCFs (49–56%) include mostly coarse-grained glass, quartz, calcite, and mullite, and these are the poorest in trace elements fractions. NFFs (39–47%) contain dominantly fine-grained glass, calcite, quartz, char, and mullite, and are slightly enriched in some chalcophile elements. Possible environmental concerns are related mainly to the trace element mobility in WRs, LFs, and CCs, while the potential utilization directions are connected mostly with the composition of MFs, WRs, CCs, LFs, and NFFs.     

膨胀土工程特性及其石灰改性试验研究

系统地开展了弱、中膨胀土及石灰稳定土的物理力学试验.试验表明:中膨胀土具有较强的吸水膨胀软化特性,其CBR值低于3%,不能满足路基对填料的强度要求,用作路基填料必须改性;当压实含水量控制得当,弱膨胀土CBR可满足规范要求,其压实含水量宜按最优含水量+(3～4)%控制;用石灰对中膨胀土改性效果显著,能有效抑制其胀缩潜势和提高土体强度,能满足路堤填筑的要求.中膨胀土石灰改性的质量掺合比宜按5.0%控制.     

粉煤灰和二灰对桂林红黏土力学性质的影响

为了研究粉煤灰和二灰掺量及养护时间对桂林红黏土的改良效果,进行了直剪试验、固结试验以及电镜扫描试验。试验结果表明,粉煤灰的掺入提高了红黏土的抗剪强度,但超过一定量（18%粉煤灰掺量）反而会降低红黏土黏聚力,各掺量粉煤灰红黏土随养护龄期的延长,抗剪强度呈先增后缓趋势。二灰改良红黏土,在早期强度剧增,且强度随养护时间增长而大幅增加,一定龄期内,二灰红黏土黏聚力随二灰掺量呈先增后减趋势。粉煤灰和二灰的掺入均增大了红黏土的压缩模量,且随养护时间的延长而逐渐增大。红黏土中随粉煤灰、石灰的加入,发生一系列物理化学反应,从微观结构分析得知土中孔隙减少,结构性较素红黏土好。