Performance of dry-separation processes in the recovery of cenospheres from fly ash and their implementation in a recovery unit

Cenospheres recovery is one of the coal fly ash beneficiations, providing economic as well as environmental benefits. Current techniques, such as lagoon or other wet-separation processes, consume large amounts of water and add to water pollution due to leaching of toxic materials from fly ash. The other possible disadvantage is the need for a wide operational area, which is unsuitable for densely populated countries. As wet-separation processes have some disadvantages, an improved and/or sustainable alternative recovery technique is required. An air classifier is one of the alternative techniques. In this study, two types of air classifiers, namely a closed-type pneumatic separator and a micron separator, have been investigated. In terms of separation efficiency, it was found that the micron separator has the potential to be applied in cenospheres recovery from coal fly ash, giving a Newton's efficiency of 0.44, as compared to a value of about 0.26 for the closed-type pneumatic separator. The cenospheres recoveries of both pieces of equipment at their optimum Newton's efficiencies were similar at over 60 wt.%. The separation performance was further assessed from the particle distributions of the overflow and underflow products obtained from both pieces of equipment, as well as from SEM images. It was found that the lower Newton's efficiency of the closed-type pneumatic separator was due to the re-concentration of fine particles in the underflow product at air-flow rates higher than 2.2 m/s (the underflow product yield was about 55 wt.%).In order to further confirm the applicability of this technique, the micron separator, which had provided higher separation efficiency and cenospheres recovery, was deployed in a cenospheres recovery unit prior to the use of a wet-separation process (float and sink tank). About 80% of the cenospheres was recovered, with an 87.8% reduction in the total mass of fly ash to be separated in the float and sink tank. Consequently, much less water was needed for the process of cenospheres recovery. Moreover, it was also confirmed that the micron separator could yield higher quality fly ashes, that is, fly ash types I and II, from lower feed quality of fly ash type IV, which is the lowest category in commercial classification of fly ash according to JIS A6201.     

Three-Dimensional Subsurface Structure Model of Kansai International Airport by Integration of Borehole Data and Seismic Profiles

The three-dimensional subsurface structure model around Kansai International Airport (KIX) has been developed based on the geologically and geotechnically investigated results of a large amount of borehole data for estimation of subsidence. The model consists of the alternation of marine clay and coarse deposits. The many seismic surveys and borehole drillings were carried out around the KIX before the constructing the airport. The stratigraphy of the model was renewed by the KIX18-1, which was about 1,300 m long drilling core and was drilled near the 2nd runway of the KIX from 2006 to 2007. In this study, the subsurface geological model was revised by integration of renewed borehole data and seismic profiles to incorporate complex warping structure and heterogenic lateral variation.     

Secondary remanent magnetization carried by magnetite inclusions in silicates: a comparative study of unremagnetized and remagnetized granites

Magnetic carriers in remagnetized Cretaceous granitic rocks of northeast Japan were studied using paleomagnetism, rock magnetism, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by comparison with unremagnetized granitic rocks. The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of the remagnetized rocks is strong (0.3–1.7 A/m) and shows a northwesterly direction with moderate inclination (NW remanence), whereas the unremagnetized rocks preserve weak NRM (<0.5 A/m) with westerly and shallow direction (W remanence). Although thermal demagnetization shows that both NRMs are carried by magnetite, the remagnetized rocks reveal a higher coercivity with respect to alternating field demagnetization (20 mT相似文献   

Jurassic plume-origin ophiolites in Japan: accreted fragments of oceanic plateaus

The Mikabu and Sorachi–Yezo belts comprise Jurassic ophiolitic complexes in Japan, where abundant basaltic to picritic rocks occur as lavas and hyaloclastite blocks. In the studied northern Hamamatsu and Dodaira areas of the Mikabu belt, these rocks are divided into two geochemical types, namely depleted (D-) and enriched (E-) types. In addition, highly enriched (HE-) type has been reported from other areas in literature. The D-type picrites contain highly magnesian relic olivine phenocrysts up to Fo_93.5, and their Fo–NiO trend indicates fractional crystallization from a high-MgO primary magma. The MgO content is calculated as high as 25 wt%, indicating mantle melting at unusually high potential temperature (T _p) up to 1,650 °C. The E-type rocks represent the enrichment in Fe and LREE and the depletion in Mg, Al and HREE relative to the D-type rocks. These chemical characteristics are in good accordance with those of melts from garnet pyroxenite melting. Volcanics in the Sorachi–Yezo belts can be divided into the same types as the Mikabu belt, and the D-type picrites with magnesian olivines also show lines of evidence for production from high T _p mantle. Evidence for the high T _p mantle and geochemical similarities with high-Mg picrites and komatiites from oceanic and continental large igneous provinces (LIPs) indicate that the Mikabu and Sorachi–Yezo belts are accreted oceanic LIPs that were formed from hot large mantle plumes in the Late Jurassic Pacific Ocean. The E- and D-type rocks were formed as magmas generated by garnet pyroxenite melting at an early stage of LIP magmatism and by depleted peridotite melting at the later stage, respectively. The Mikabu belt characteristically bears abundant ultramafic cumulates, which could have been formed by crystal accumulation from a primary magma generated from Fe-rich peridotite mantle source, and the HE-type magma were produced by low degrees partial melting of garnet pyroxenite source. They should have been formed later and in lower temperatures than the E- and D-type rocks. The Mikabu and Sorachi Plateaus were formed in a low-latitude region of the Late Jurassic Pacific Ocean possibly near a subduction zone, partially experienced high P/T metamorphism during subduction, and then uplifted in association with (or without, in case of Mikabu) the supra-subduction zone ophiolite. The Mikabu and Sorachi Plateaus may be the Late Jurassic oceanic LIPs that could have been formed in brotherhood with the Shatsky Rise.     

Oxygen isotope systematics in Diploastrea heliopora: new coral archive of tropical paleoclimate

Diploastrea heliopora forms dense, robust, dome-shaped coral colonies throughout the reef ecosystems of the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. This slow-growing (2 to 6 mm/yr) coral has the potential to yield continuous paleoclimate records spanning up to 1000 yr for the warmest waters on Earth, the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool, and has a long fossil history as a single recognizable species. Despite the potential of Diploastrea to be an important new paleoclimate archive, little is known about the systematics of geochemical tracers incorporated into its skeleton. To fill this knowledge gap, we compared skeletal δ¹⁸O signatures in live Diploastrea and Porites colonies from Southwest Lagoon, near Amédée Lighthouse, New Caledonia (at the southern latitudinal limit for Diploastrea) and Alor, Indonesia (in the core area of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool). We designed a new microsampling technique to minimize smoothing and distortion of the isotopic records due to the complex calyx architecture and slow growth of Diploastrea. High-resolution isotope profiles from the septal portion of the Diploastrea corallite are attenuated, whereas those restricted to the central columella are similar in quality to those extracted from the well-established Porites coral archive. The δ¹⁸O-temperature relationship for the columellar portion of Diploastrea (−0.18‰/°C) is in good agreement with that derived for a nearby Porites (−0.19‰/°C; Quinn et al., 1996), on the basis of comparison with an in situ sea surface temperature record from Amédée Lighthouse. There is a measurable difference of 0.3 ± 0.1‰ between the kinetic/biological disequilibrium offsets from seawater δ¹⁸O composition for Diploastrea and Porites. Despite this offset in mean δ¹⁸O, Diploastrea accurately records the regional differences in mean temperature and salinity between New Caledonia and the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool. Additional tests show that Diploastrea records El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) interannual variability in sea surface temperature and salinity across the southwestern Pacific, indicating that it should yield dependable paleo-ENSO records. Based on these results, we propose that D. heliopora has the potential to provide an important new coral archive of tropical paleoclimate.     

Effect of ocean acidification on coastal phytoplankton composition and accompanying organic nitrogen production

The effect of ocean acidification, caused by the increase in pCO₂ in seawater, on phytoplankton population and on related organic nitrogen production was experimentally examined by use of a natural coastal microbial population. pCO₂ and pH were controlled by aeration with air in which pCO₂ was at the current level (control), for which ambient air was used, and with air in which pCO₂ was ??800?? and ??1200?? ppm, in 500-L culture vessels. The experiment was continued for 15?days after addition of the inorganic nutrients such as nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. During most of the experimental period, a minor increase in phytoplankton biomass was noted, probably because of low irradiance, an increase in phytoplankton biomass was observed at the end of the experiment. Flow cytometric and microscopic observations revealed that this increase was because of Chrysochromulina sp. (Haptophyceae). The growth of Chrysochromulina sp. was most obvious in the control vessel, and tended to be obscured by increasing pCO₂ (decrease in pH), indicating the possibility that ocean acidification inhibits the growth of specific phytoplankton groups, for example Chrysochromulina sp. Production of particulate organic nitrogen (PON), determined by the ¹⁵N tracer method, also diminished under acidified conditions compared with that at the current level.     

Active spreading and hydrothermalism in North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). Results of Japanese French Cruise Kaiyo 87

The aim of the Japanese-French Kaiyo 87 cruise was the study of the spreading axis in the North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). A Seabeam and geophysical survey allowed us to define the detailed structure of the active NS spreading axis between 16° and 22° S and its relationships with the left lateral motion of the North Fiji Fracture Zone. Between 21° S and 18°10′ S, the spreading axis trends NS. From 18°10 S to 16°40 S the orientation of the spreading axis changes from NS to 015°. North of 16°40′ S the spreading axis trends 160°. These two 015° and 160° branches converge with the left lateral North Fiji fracture zone around 16°40′ S to define an RRFZ triple junction. Water sampling, dredging and photo TV deep towing give new information concerning the hydrothermal activity along the spreading axis. The discovery of hydrothermal deposits associated with living communities confirms this activity.     

Removal of water‐surface reflection effects with a temporal minimum filter for UAV‐based shallow‐water photogrammetry

The recent development of structure‐from‐motion (SfM) and multi‐view stereo (MVS) photogrammetry techniques has enabled semi‐automatic high‐resolution bathymetry using aerial images taken by consumer‐grade digital cameras mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, the applicability of these techniques is sometimes limited by sun and sky reflections at the water surface, which render the point‐cloud density and accuracy insufficient. In this research, we present a new imaging technique to suppress the effect of these water‐surface reflections. In this technique, we order a drone to take a short video instead of a still picture at each waypoint. We then apply a temporal minimum filter to the video. This filter extracts the smallest RGB values in all the video frames for each pixel, and composes an image with greatly reduced reflection effects. To assess the performance of this technique, we applied it at three small shallow‐water sites. Specifically, we evaluated the effect of the technique on the point cloud density and the accuracy and precision of the photogrammetry. The results showed that the proposed technique achieved a far denser point cloud than the case in which a randomly chosen frame was used for each waypoint, and also showed better overall accuracy and precision in estimating water‐bottom elevation. The effectiveness of this new technique should depend on the surface wave state and sky radiance distribution, and this dependence, as well as the applicability to large areas, should be investigated in future research. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

柴达木北缘超高压变质带中的岛弧火山岩

青藏高原北部柴北缘发育一套与超高压变质带并行的早古生代岛弧火山岩带,岛弧火山岩以玄武岩类为主,包括一些中酸性岩类,岩石以普遍遭受绿片岩相蚀变为特征,区别于该地区普遍遭受角闪岩相区域变质的元古代的基性火山岩。该早古生代的岛孤火山岩显示三组地球化学特征:①VTG-Ⅰ,岛弧拉斑玄武岩(IAT);②VTG-Ⅱ,高Al次钙碱性-碱性过渡型玄武岩;③VTG-Ⅲ,较N-MORB更亏损的拉斑玄武岩(异常MORB)。研究认为前两组火山岩是成熟岛弧两个发育阶段的特征性产物:洋壳俯冲到陆壳的初用,由俯冲洋壳和地幔楔的部分熔融形成岛弧拉斑玄武岩(IAT),随着俯冲板块的速度加快和岛弧周围地壳的加厚,则形成钙碱性玄武岩(CA)、高Al玄武岩。第三组火山岩形成于弧间盆地,由亏损的地幔楔高度部分熔融形成比N-MORB亏损的的火山岩(异常MORB)。岛弧火山岩的锆石LA-ICP-MS法U-Pb年龄为514.2±8.5 Ma,说明柴北缘在早古生代发生过洋壳向陆壳的俯冲作用。鉴于该地区代表陆-陆俯冲作用的柴北缘超高压变质岩石也是形成于早古生代(494Ma),认为陆-陆俯冲作用发生在洋-陆俯冲作用之后,二者时间和空间相伴随。     

Carbon and oxygen isotope chemostratigraphies of the Yangtze platform,South China: Decoding temperature and environmental changes through the Ediacaran

Multicellular animals first appeared on the earth during the Ediacaran period. However, the relationship between the abrupt biological evolution and environmental changes is still ambiguous. In order to examine seawater temperature and the carbon cycle through the Ediacaran, we analyzed the carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of carbonate rocks from drill cores from the Three Gorges area, South China. Importantly, the core samples include the Nantuo tillite, corresponding to the Marinoan glaciation, through the Doushantuo to the lower Dengying Fms. in ascending order.The δ¹³C profile displays five positive and five negative anomalies (PI-1 to 5 and NI-1 to 5), and the oxygen isotopes display very high absolute values around 0‰ with the highest at + 1.83‰. The combined δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C chemostratigraphies display both positive and negative correlations between the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values. The occurrence of the negative correlations supports the preservation of primary δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values.The sample NI-4 has a negative correlation of the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C excursions. The correlation supports a primary signature for both δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C variations. The positive δ¹⁸O excursion, accompanied by evidence of a eustatic sea-level fall, provides direct evidence for global cooling in the mid-Ediacaran; the 580 Ma Gaskiers Glaciation is a potential candidate for this global cooling event. The negative δ¹³C excursion was possibly caused by an increase in remineralization of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) due to enhanced continental weathering during the glaciation.Sample NI-5 is characterized by very low δ¹³C values, down to ? 10‰, corresponding to the Shuram-Wonoka-Pertatataka Excursion. The cause of the δ¹³C negative excursion is still not clear. However, a ubiquitous occurrence in excursions worldwide, and the lower δ¹³C values in deeper sections favor the enhancement of remineralization and respiration rather than secondary alteration, a restricted sea environment and lithification in coastal areas.