Surface area, porosity and water adsorption properties of fine volcanic ash particles

Our understanding on how ash particles in volcanic plumes react with coexisting gases and aerosols is still rudimentary, despite the importance of these reactions in influencing the chemistry and dynamics of a plume. In this study, six samples of fine ash (<100 m) from different volcanoes were measured for their specific surface area, a_s, porosity and water adsorption properties with the aim to provide insights into the capacity of silicate ash particles to react with gases, including water vapour. To do so, we performed high-resolution nitrogen and water vapour adsorption/desorption experiments at 77 K and 303 K, respectively. The nitrogen data indicated a_s values in the range 1.1–2.1 m²/g, except in one case where a a_s of 10 m²/g was measured. This high value is attributed to incorporation of hydrothermal phases, such as clay minerals, in the ash surface composition. The data also revealed that the ash samples are essentially non-porous, or have a porosity dominated by macropores with widths >500 Å. All the specimens had similar pore size distributions, with a small peak centered around 50 Å. These findings suggest that fine ash particles have relatively undifferentiated surface textures, irrespective of the chemical composition and eruption type. Adsorption isotherms for water vapour revealed that the capacity of the ash samples for water adsorption is systematically larger than predicted from the nitrogen adsorption a_s values. Enhanced reactivity of the ash surface towards water may result from (i) hydration of bulk ash constituents; (ii) hydration of surface compounds; and/or (iii) hydroxylation of the surface of the ash. The later mechanism may lead to irreversible retention of water. Based on these experiments, we predict that volcanic ash is covered by a complete monolayer of water under ambient atmospheric conditions. In addition, capillary condensation within ash pores should allow for deposition of condensed water on to ash particles before water reaches saturation in the plume. The total mass of water vapour retained by 1 g of fine ash at 0.95 relative water vapour pressure is calculated to be ~10^–2 g. Some volcanic implications of this study are discussed.Editorial responsibility: J. Gilbert     

Sewage sludge dumping and contamination of Liverpool Bay sediments

The results of four MAFF surveys (1975–1980) of the sediments in and around the sewage sludge dumping site in Liverpool Bay are presented. Sediments were analysed for particle size distribution, organic carbon concentrations and concentrations of Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cr. Concentrations of organic carbon and metals were found to be elevated in the fine ( < 90 μm) fraction in areas associated with the major inputs of these substances to the bay—near the mouth of the Mersey, near the sewage sludge dumping site and at the dredged spoil dumping site.In an attempt to determine any temporal trends between surveys, stations were grouped into four 8×8 km areas from offshore of the dumping ground to the mouth of the Mersey. Changes in the metal concentrations in sediments in the square nearest the sewage sludge dumping site were larger than in the other squares including that nearest the Mersey. Comparison of temporal trends near the sewage sludge site with the quantities actually dumped showed a correlation between the two, consistent with sewage sludge dumping being a major contributor to the metal levels in fine sediments near the dumping ground.     

粉煤灰湿陷变形的三轴试验和计算

采用双压力室三轴仪对粉煤灰试样进行了单线法湿陷试验,研究了在静水压力作用以及在不同应力状态和应力水平下粉煤灰湿陷变形的规律,得出了粉煤灰湿陷变形的经验计算公式.提出了计算粉煤灰地基湿陷变形的"全应变曲线"增量有限元法.基于本文的试验结果,对一个粉煤灰地基的湿陷变形进行了有限元计算.     

Trace elements in world steam coal and their behaviour in Dutch coal-fired power stations: A review

Trace elements associated with the combustion of coal have received more attention recently, as can be seen from the increasing demands laid down in legislation and permits.Knowledge of the trace element content of coal is essential. Coal used in the Netherlands is imported from all over the world. As a consequence, Dutch power stations are designed to burn a wide range of bituminous coals. The largest share nowadays originates from South Africa, Colombia, and Indonesia, with these three countries accounting for more than 85% of the coal fired in the Netherlands in recent years. The coals, as imported in the Netherlands, have been monitored for their (trace) element content. At present the database contains results of own analyses of about 170 coals, originating from 14 different countries. An important uncertainty was the question of how homogeneous the imported lots are. It appears that the lots as imported from overseas are fairly homogeneous.The behaviour and fate of trace elements in coal-fired power stations has been studied in more than 40 mass balance studies since 1977. More than 50 test series have been completed during co-combustion of biomass and waste materials (up to 40% on mass base) since 1993. It has therefore been possible to establish a relationship between (trace) elements in the fuel and the ash, as well as with emissions into the atmosphere.     

富火山物质烃源岩评价方法——以北疆石炭系为例

正新疆北部石炭系发育一套巨厚的混杂有火山物质的烃源岩。有机质丰度以及类型等指标显示具有作为烃源岩的潜力。笔者综合运用薄片等分析资料将其划分为凝灰岩、沉凝灰岩、凝灰质泥岩、含碳质泥岩,并分类研究了其地球化学特征。针对富火山物质烃源岩成熟度高、有机质丰度低的特点,首次运用生烃模拟实验结合数值模拟开展其有机碳含量恢复,建立了不同火山物质含量烃源岩有机     

武汉东湖淤泥碳化-固化试验研究

引入活性MgO-粉煤灰固化材料,采用碳化-固化联合技术处理武汉东湖疏浚淤泥,通过无侧限抗压强度、扫描电镜和压汞试验,研究加压碳化模式、碳化时间、MgO-粉煤灰配比和固化剂掺量等因素下CO2碳化作用对固化淤泥力学性质和微观结构的影响。结果表明：活性MgO-粉煤灰固化淤泥碳化后抗压强度进一步增长,应力-应变关系曲线压密阶段应变缩小;不同固化剂配比的东湖淤泥试样具有不同的最佳加压模式,而加压模式决定了相同碳化时间下固化淤泥CO2吸入量,从而影响碳化-固化淤泥试样抗压强度;活性MgO掺量低时试样抗压强度整体较低,强度随碳化时间增加先增大后减小;MgO掺量较高时,碳化试样强度随碳化时间快速达到较高值,随后增长缓慢。微观分析表明：水碳镁石、球碳镁石和碳酸镁石等镁碳酸盐是碳化-固化联合技术增强淤泥强度的主要原因,其膨胀性和胶结作用促使土体中团粒内孔隙向颗粒间孔隙转化,土体更密实,抗压强度增加。     

低温灰分仪的研制与应用

介绍低温灰分仪的原理、结构、主要技术性能及测试实例。其测试结果与高温灰化相比,煤中矿物质除石膏变为烧石膏外,其它矿物质仍然保持原貌,其成本低,精度高,操作简便。      

Aquatic Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Chemicals in Wet Weather Discharges in the Sydney Region, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Water has completed a risk assessment to assess the risks to human health and aquatic organisms in creeks, rivers, estuaries and ocean waters affected by wet weather sewage overflows, stormwater and sewage treatment plant discharges. The risk assessment methodology consists of a comparison of measured and predicted concentrations of chemicals with toxicity reference values. Estimates of receiving water chemical concentrations were derived using data from a 10-year period so that the variable rainfall pattern was represented. Computer models were used to simulate and predict wet weather discharges during this ten year period. Risks were validated by bioassays and bioassessments. Risks to aquatic life from wet weather discharges were attributed to 14 chemicals at one or more of the sites and stormwater was the predominate source of the chemicals. There were no risks to people engaged in water based activities. Noncarcinogenic risks from fish ingestion are predicted at three sites. Predicted cancer risks for most individual chemicals were relatively small. Carcinogenic risks were typically associated with organochlorine compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dichlorobenzene, and arsenic. The predicted cancer risks also appear to be largely the result of stormwater rather than sewage overflow inputs and largely due to historical contamination by organochlorine pesticides. It is expected the concentrations of these chemicals will decrease over time.     

The Use of Aquatic Macrophyte Ecotoxicological Assays in Monitoring Coastal Effluent Discharges in Southern Australia

Germination inhibition of zoospores of the aquatic, brown algal macrophyte Ecklonia radiata was employed to assess the toxicity of sewage effluents under short to long term exposure and under modified salinity conditions. The rate of germination inhibition was determined for exposure times between 2 and 48 h in salinity modified and unmodified regimes and under reduced salinity conditions alone. The results indicated that rate of germination inhibition increased with duration of exposure to sewage effluents and to salinity reduction alone, and that response to the effluents may be enhanced under conditions of reduced salinity. Whilst the effect of primary treated effluent was primarily that of toxicity, secondary treated effluent effects appeared to be primarily that of reduced salinity although at a greater rate than would be expected for salinity reduction alone. The assay is suggested to provide a mechanism for monitoring sewage effluent quality and to monitor potential impacts of sewage effluent discharge on kelp communities in southern Australia.