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Coal fly ash and steel slag valorisation throughout a vitrification process

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology volume 15, pages 1757–1766 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of using the vitrification process as an alternative solution to the disposal of a coal fly ash and metallurgical slags in landfills. The starting wastes were characterised in terms of chemical, granulometric, mineralogical, and microstructural analysis. A selected batch composition composed by 58.5% fly ash, 31.5% metallurgical slag and 10.0 Na2O% (wt%) was melted at 1450 °C and poured to obtain monolithic glass samples. The environmental behaviour of the starting wastes and the resulting glass was evaluated by standard leaching tests, which shows that vitrification leads to a stabilisation process in which the inorganic components of the wastes are immobilised throughout their incorporation into the glass structure. Moreover, vitrification transforms those hazardous wastes into a new non-hazardous glass. A preliminary study shows that the new glass is suitable for developing glass–ceramic tiles appropriate for floor pavement and wall covering.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Mrs. P. Díaz and Mrs. E. Sánchez for their technical assistance. H. R. Guzmán-Carrillo wants to thank CONACyT for scholarship (Grant No. 311363) and to Prof. J. Ma. Rincón from the IETcc-CSIC for his valuable advice.

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Author notes

  1. H. R. Guzmán-Carrillo

    Present address: CINVESTAV, I.P.N. Unidad Querétaro, 76230, Querétaro, Mexico

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia y Materiales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria Morelia, 58030, Michoacán, Mexico

    H. R. Guzmán-Carrillo & E. A. Aguilar Reyes

  2. Group of Glass and Ceramic Materials, Eduardo Torroja Institute for Construction Sciences, CSIC, C/Serrano Galvache 4, 28033, Madrid, Spain

    J. M. Pérez & M. Romero

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  1. H. R. Guzmán-Carrillo
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  2. J. M. Pérez
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  3. E. A. Aguilar Reyes
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  4. M. Romero
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Correspondence to M. Romero.

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Editorial responsibility: Q. Aguilar-Virgen.

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Guzmán-Carrillo, H.R., Pérez, J.M., Aguilar Reyes, E.A. et al. Coal fly ash and steel slag valorisation throughout a vitrification process. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15, 1757–1766 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1542-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-017-1542-5

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