Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)

The subject of the research involved fly ashes from several power plants in Poland, produced in the process of hard coal and lignite combustion. The objective of this article was to determine the concentration and distribution of elements strategic for the EU economy in ashes and in their two finest...

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Main Author: Ewa Strzałkowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/8/3331
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author Ewa Strzałkowska
author_facet Ewa Strzałkowska
author_sort Ewa Strzałkowska
collection DOAJ
description The subject of the research involved fly ashes from several power plants in Poland, produced in the process of hard coal and lignite combustion. The objective of this article was to determine the concentration and distribution of elements strategic for the EU economy in ashes and in their two finest grain classes (below 20 µm and 45 µm). The differences in grain size of these ashes, as shown by granulometric tests, were significant. The concentrations of elements in the ashes and in grain classes were compared with the world average (Clarke value) for this raw material. For the majority of critical elements, a dependence of the concentration on the size of ash particles was observed. The content of REY (Rare earth elements and yttrium) and other critical elements in hard coal ashes increases with decreasing particle size. Despite the increase in the concentration of REY in the class below 20 µm, the Clarke value of these elements was not exceeded. Pearson’s correlation coefficients confirmed the interdependence between some elements of the ashes. The distribution of trace elements in grain classes of the ash was determined on the basis of observations using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) detector. Components of fly ashes that can be treated as an alternative source of strategic elements for the European Union were indicated.
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spelling doaj.art-a146ac0b3cf7425c8a957044f00e3bf22023-11-17T19:03:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-04-01168333110.3390/en16083331Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)Ewa Strzałkowska0Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, 4-100 Gliwice, PolandThe subject of the research involved fly ashes from several power plants in Poland, produced in the process of hard coal and lignite combustion. The objective of this article was to determine the concentration and distribution of elements strategic for the EU economy in ashes and in their two finest grain classes (below 20 µm and 45 µm). The differences in grain size of these ashes, as shown by granulometric tests, were significant. The concentrations of elements in the ashes and in grain classes were compared with the world average (Clarke value) for this raw material. For the majority of critical elements, a dependence of the concentration on the size of ash particles was observed. The content of REY (Rare earth elements and yttrium) and other critical elements in hard coal ashes increases with decreasing particle size. Despite the increase in the concentration of REY in the class below 20 µm, the Clarke value of these elements was not exceeded. Pearson’s correlation coefficients confirmed the interdependence between some elements of the ashes. The distribution of trace elements in grain classes of the ash was determined on the basis of observations using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) detector. Components of fly ashes that can be treated as an alternative source of strategic elements for the European Union were indicated.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/8/3331critical elementsgrain classesfly ashrare earth elementsparticle size
spellingShingle Ewa Strzałkowska
Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
Energies
critical elements
grain classes
fly ash
rare earth elements
particle size
title Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
title_full Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
title_fullStr Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
title_full_unstemmed Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
title_short Ashes Qualified as a Source of Selected Critical Elements (REY, Co, Ga, V)
title_sort ashes qualified as a source of selected critical elements rey co ga v
topic critical elements
grain classes
fly ash
rare earth elements
particle size
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/8/3331
work_keys_str_mv AT ewastrzałkowska ashesqualifiedasasourceofselectedcriticalelementsreycogav