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Synthesizing mullite from beneficiated fly ash

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Abstract

In the United States, approximately 50 million tonnes of fly ash are generated by electrical utilities annually. The current consumption rate for fly ash materials is less than 20% because most fly ash materials do not meet market specifications and the quality of the ash is inconsistent. A beneficiation process that produces quality-controlled fly ash components has been developed. The synthesis of mullite as a refractory material is one industrial application for the silicate sphere component from the beneficiated fly ash. As-received (untreated) fly ash did not produce a usable mullite refractory. This article discusses the fly ash beneficiation process and mullite synthesis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michigan Technological University, USA

    Jiann-Yang Hwang Ph.D. (director, member of TMS), Xiaodi Huang Ph.D. (research associate) & Allison M. Hein B.S. (research engineer/scientist)

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  1. Jiann-Yang Hwang Ph.D.
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  2. Xiaodi Huang Ph.D.
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  3. Allison M. Hein B.S.
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Hwang, JY., Huang, X. & Hein, A.M. Synthesizing mullite from beneficiated fly ash. JOM 46, 36–39 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03220694

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