Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics

The movements and efforts of a circular economy, aiming to tap into the resource potential of ash, require an intimate knowledge of the material; often, target elements within this material are part of complex ash phases. This work shows how automated SEM investigations measure up to other laborator...

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Autores principales:	Andrea C. Guhl, Sandra Pavón, Bernhard Schulz, Martin Bertau
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	ash SSA sewage sludge ash phosphorus automated mineralogy mineral liberation analysis Mineralogy QE351-399.2
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/906df3797af34ebfb00a761534ec16bf
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:906df3797af34ebfb00a761534ec16bf2021-11-25T18:26:03ZLinking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics10.3390/min111111822075-163Xhttps://doaj.org/article/906df3797af34ebfb00a761534ec16bf2021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/11/11/1182https://doaj.org/toc/2075-163XThe movements and efforts of a circular economy, aiming to tap into the resource potential of ash, require an intimate knowledge of the material; often, target elements within this material are part of complex ash phases. This work shows how automated SEM investigations measure up to other laboratory techniques for the analysis of elemental composition and particle size. Three sewage sludge ash (SSA) samples have been studied in this comparison, showing material variation for SSA and highlighting the strengths and shortcomings of the methods chosen. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) show relevant phosphate phases, but also a number of other elements. The extent of the accompanying elements, most likely hindering efficient phosphorus (P) recovery, varies. Propensities for detection in fine-grained and largely amorphous material such as ash vary, as is explored in this thorough comparison. ICP-OES data suffers from incomplete sample mobilization, and XRF-derived values suffer from matrix effects. Both are the only techniques studied which show trace elements, such as potentially toxic elements. SEM-EDX automated mineralogy delivers more reliable data for main elements while not reporting traces. By showing SEM-EDX automated mineralogy particle size distributions, alongside laser diffraction derived particle size distributions, the extent of the strain ash puts on traditional techniques is visible. Ashes tend to agglomerate, and the porous nature of particles hinders accurate detection. This work highlights where SSA recycling needs to be careful and hints at the extent of discrepancies between different methods. When understanding ash as a potential resource and designing efficient extraction strategies, this knowledge is crucial.Andrea C. GuhlSandra PavónBernhard SchulzMartin BertauMDPI AGarticleashSSAsewage sludge ashphosphorusautomated mineralogymineral liberation analysisMineralogyQE351-399.2ENMinerals, Vol 11, Iss 1182, p 1182 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	ash SSA sewage sludge ash phosphorus automated mineralogy mineral liberation analysis Mineralogy QE351-399.2
spellingShingle	ash SSA sewage sludge ash phosphorus automated mineralogy mineral liberation analysis Mineralogy QE351-399.2 Andrea C. Guhl Sandra Pavón Bernhard Schulz Martin Bertau Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
description	The movements and efforts of a circular economy, aiming to tap into the resource potential of ash, require an intimate knowledge of the material; often, target elements within this material are part of complex ash phases. This work shows how automated SEM investigations measure up to other laboratory techniques for the analysis of elemental composition and particle size. Three sewage sludge ash (SSA) samples have been studied in this comparison, showing material variation for SSA and highlighting the strengths and shortcomings of the methods chosen. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) show relevant phosphate phases, but also a number of other elements. The extent of the accompanying elements, most likely hindering efficient phosphorus (P) recovery, varies. Propensities for detection in fine-grained and largely amorphous material such as ash vary, as is explored in this thorough comparison. ICP-OES data suffers from incomplete sample mobilization, and XRF-derived values suffer from matrix effects. Both are the only techniques studied which show trace elements, such as potentially toxic elements. SEM-EDX automated mineralogy delivers more reliable data for main elements while not reporting traces. By showing SEM-EDX automated mineralogy particle size distributions, alongside laser diffraction derived particle size distributions, the extent of the strain ash puts on traditional techniques is visible. Ashes tend to agglomerate, and the porous nature of particles hinders accurate detection. This work highlights where SSA recycling needs to be careful and hints at the extent of discrepancies between different methods. When understanding ash as a potential resource and designing efficient extraction strategies, this knowledge is crucial.
format	article
author	Andrea C. Guhl Sandra Pavón Bernhard Schulz Martin Bertau
author_facet	Andrea C. Guhl Sandra Pavón Bernhard Schulz Martin Bertau
author_sort	Andrea C. Guhl
title	Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
title_short	Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
title_full	Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
title_fullStr	Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed	Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics
title_sort	linking automated scanning electron microscope based investigations to chemical analysis for an improved understanding of ash characteristics
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/906df3797af34ebfb00a761534ec16bf
work_keys_str_mv	AT andreacguhl linkingautomatedscanningelectronmicroscopebasedinvestigationstochemicalanalysisforanimprovedunderstandingofashcharacteristics AT sandrapavon linkingautomatedscanningelectronmicroscopebasedinvestigationstochemicalanalysisforanimprovedunderstandingofashcharacteristics AT bernhardschulz linkingautomatedscanningelectronmicroscopebasedinvestigationstochemicalanalysisforanimprovedunderstandingofashcharacteristics AT martinbertau linkingautomatedscanningelectronmicroscopebasedinvestigationstochemicalanalysisforanimprovedunderstandingofashcharacteristics
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Linking Automated Scanning Electron Microscope Based Investigations to Chemical Analysis for an Improved Understanding of Ash Characteristics

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