abstract
Woody biomass combustion for heat and power production generates substantial amounts of biomass fly ash (BFA), typically disposed of in landfills. Valorizing this residue can be achieved by exploiting its self-hardening properties. This study investigates the effects of pre-treatments on BFA characteristics and self-hardened specimens' mechanical response and mineralogical phase development. Pre-treatments involved sieving BFA at 63 mu m and grinding BFA to pass the 63 mu m sieve. Self-hardened specimens were prepared merely by adding distilled water to the BFA powders and curing for 7, 30, 90, and 120 days. Reducing particle size increased compressive strength and hydrocalumite content in samples cured for 120 days. After 120 days, the sieved BFA sample had the highest hydrocalumite content (29.1 wt.%). The ground and sieved samples showed the greatest compressive strength (8.1 MPa). This suggests that hydrocalumite alone does not account for the strength; better compactness and higher concentrations of reactive species (Ca, Si, S, Al, and Cl) in the ground powder likely contributed to forming more amorphous or low-crystallinity hydration products that enhance specimen strength. Using BFA as a precursor for producing hydrocalumite-containing self-hardened binders offers a promising method for valorizing this residue, leveraging its adsorption capabilities for affordable environmental remediation solutions.
keywords
QUANTITATIVE PHASE-ANALYSIS; FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTION; BOTTOM ASH; DISSOLUTION; PEAT; MORTAR; WOOD
subject category
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
authors
Capela, MN; Tobaldi, DM; Vilarinho, IS; Seabra, MP; Labrincha, JA
our authors
David Maria Tobaldi
Researcher
Inês Lousada Silveirinha Borges Vilarinho
Junior Researcher
João António Labrincha Baptista
Full professor
Maria Paula Seabra
Assistant Professor
Marinélia Capela
ResearcherProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab (EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
acknowledgements
Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on). This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020 & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC (PIDDAC). This work was partly supported by the Italian Ministry of Research (MUR) in the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, M4C2, within the NRRP project NFFA-DI, CUP B53C22004310006, IR0000015. "I-PHOQS" Grant (CUP B53C22001750006) and under the complementary actions to the NRRP, "Fit4MedRob" Grant (PNC0000007, CUP B53C22006960001) and "ANTHEM" Grant (PNC0000003, CUP B53C22006710001), funded by NextGenerationEU.