Micro-surface-analytical techniques for characterizing fly ash: Interim report

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7096324

Lichtman, D

Various surface analytical techniques in the study of coal ash particles were evaluated. Experimental work involved the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and, to a limited degree, secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The particles studied came from collections in the stack and in the plume of the Kincaid, Illinois Power Plant, the stack of the Bull Run, Tennessee Power Plant, and the stack of the Mohave Power Plant in Nevada. All of the techniques yielded useful information. The various analyses led to the following observations. About 95% of all particles collected in the stack are spherical, consisting primarily of an aluminosilicate matrix with impurities. At the sensitivity limit of EDX, AES, and XPS (about 0.5 atomic %), there is no evidence of any accumulation of high atomic number elements on any size fraction. There is evidence of enrichment of sulfur on the surface, especially for the <1 ..mu..m particles. All the <1 ..mu..m particles (collected in the stack) we have studied appear to be very similar to the >1 ..mu..m size particles. In addition to the actual coal ash particles studied, measurements were made on a number of calibration materials, such as sulfur compounds, aluminosilicate standards, etc. The results of this work have appeared in eleven publications making up the body of this report.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Milwaukee (USA). Dept. of Physics; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7096324
• Report Number(s): EPRI-EA-4820; ON: TI87920194
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
&amp; Peat-- Waste Management
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas &amp; Particulate Emissions
500200* -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROSOL WASTES
ALUMINIUM
ASHES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
CALIFORNIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAL
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION V
FLY ASH
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
ILLINOIS
ION MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
NEVADA
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RESIDUES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TENNESSEE
USA
WASTES
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY