Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions
Atmospheric emission of heavy metals from different anthropogenic sources is a great concern to human beings due to their toxicities. In order to disclose the emission levels and the distribution patterns of zinc (Zn) in the modern cement industry with respect to its low boiling point (~900 °C) comp...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/128 |
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| author | Zhonggen Li Yiming Huang Xinyu Li Guan Wang Qingfeng Wang Guangyi Sun Xinbin Feng |
| author_facet | Zhonggen Li Yiming Huang Xinyu Li Guan Wang Qingfeng Wang Guangyi Sun Xinbin Feng |
| author_sort | Zhonggen Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Atmospheric emission of heavy metals from different anthropogenic sources is a great concern to human beings due to their toxicities. In order to disclose the emission levels and the distribution patterns of zinc (Zn) in the modern cement industry with respect to its low boiling point (~900 °C) comparing to the high-temperature (1450 °C) clinker production process, solid samples representing the input and output flow of Zn during the entire production process in two preheater–precalciner cement plants (CPs) were collected and analyzed. For the first time, it was found that the behaviour of Zn inside different precalciner CPs was similar despite a huge difference in the Zn inputs to the CPs; namely, almost all the Zn input was output in clinker, which was then mixed with different additives and retarder to make cement products. The high-temperature clinkerisation process would incorporate Zn into the aluminosilicate of clinker. As a result, there was no enrichment of Zn during clinker production and the atmospheric emission factor was relatively low at 0.002%, or 1.28–9.39 mg Zn·t<sup>−1</sup> clinker. Our result for the atmospheric Zn emissions from CPs was much lower than most previous reports, implying the CPs were not a crucial Zn emission source. However, the higher load of Zn in some raw/alternative materials—like nonferrous smelting slag with a Zn content of ~2%—could greatly increase the content of Zn in clinker and cement products. Therefore, further investigation on the environmental stability of Zn in such Zn-laden cement and concrete should be carried out. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:55:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35cb19bda1b84181902a4d21bb38c5f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:55:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-35cb19bda1b84181902a4d21bb38c5f52023-11-23T12:57:37ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332022-01-0113112810.3390/atmos13010128Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric EmissionsZhonggen Li0Yiming Huang1Xinyu Li2Guan Wang3Qingfeng Wang4Guangyi Sun5Xinbin Feng6School of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, ChinaAtmospheric emission of heavy metals from different anthropogenic sources is a great concern to human beings due to their toxicities. In order to disclose the emission levels and the distribution patterns of zinc (Zn) in the modern cement industry with respect to its low boiling point (~900 °C) comparing to the high-temperature (1450 °C) clinker production process, solid samples representing the input and output flow of Zn during the entire production process in two preheater–precalciner cement plants (CPs) were collected and analyzed. For the first time, it was found that the behaviour of Zn inside different precalciner CPs was similar despite a huge difference in the Zn inputs to the CPs; namely, almost all the Zn input was output in clinker, which was then mixed with different additives and retarder to make cement products. The high-temperature clinkerisation process would incorporate Zn into the aluminosilicate of clinker. As a result, there was no enrichment of Zn during clinker production and the atmospheric emission factor was relatively low at 0.002%, or 1.28–9.39 mg Zn·t<sup>−1</sup> clinker. Our result for the atmospheric Zn emissions from CPs was much lower than most previous reports, implying the CPs were not a crucial Zn emission source. However, the higher load of Zn in some raw/alternative materials—like nonferrous smelting slag with a Zn content of ~2%—could greatly increase the content of Zn in clinker and cement products. Therefore, further investigation on the environmental stability of Zn in such Zn-laden cement and concrete should be carried out.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/128zincprecalciner cement plantsinput and output materialsatmospheric emission factors |
| spellingShingle | Zhonggen Li Yiming Huang Xinyu Li Guan Wang Qingfeng Wang Guangyi Sun Xinbin Feng Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions Atmosphere zinc precalciner cement plants input and output materials atmospheric emission factors |
| title | Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions |
| title_full | Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions |
| title_fullStr | Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions |
| title_short | Substance Flow Analysis of Zinc in Two Preheater–Precalciner Cement Plants and the Associated Atmospheric Emissions |
| title_sort | substance flow analysis of zinc in two preheater precalciner cement plants and the associated atmospheric emissions |
| topic | zinc precalciner cement plants input and output materials atmospheric emission factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/1/128 |
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