Environmental evaluation and nano-mineralogical study of fresh and unsaturated weathered coal fly ashes

Segun A. Akinyemi, Wilson M. Gitari, Leslie F. Petrik, Bemgba B. Nyakuma, James C. Hower, Colin R. Ward, Marcos L.S. Oliveira, Luis F.O. Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Coal combustion and the disposal of combustion wastes emit enormous quantities of nano-sized particles that pose significant health concerns on exposure, particularly in unindustrialized countries. Samples of fresh and weathered class F fly ash were analysed through various techniques including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman Spectroscopy. The imaging techniques showed that the fresh and weathered coal fly ash nanoparticles (CFA-NPs) are mostly spherical shaped. The crystalline phases detected were quartz, mullite, ettringite, calcite, maghemite, hematite, gypsum, magnetite, clay residues, and sulphides. The most abundant crystalline phases were quartz mixed with Al-Fe-Si-K-Ti-O-amorphous phases whereas mullite was detected in several amorphous phases of Al, Fe, Ca, Si, O, K, Mg, Mn, and P. The analyses revealed that CFA-NPs are 5–500 nm in diameter and encapsulate several potentially hazardous elements (PHEs). The carbon species were detected as 5–50 nm carbon nanoballs of graphitic layers and massive fullerenes. Lastly, the aspects of health risks related to exposure to some detected ambient nanoparticles are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-188
Number of pages12
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume663
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thankfully acknowledge Ms. Riana Rossouw at the Central Analytical Facility of Stellenbosch University (South Africa) for the ICP-MS/AES analysis and University of Venda DHET Research Incentive Funds , South Africa for the financial support for this work. This study was supported by grants from Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPg) , Brazil.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019

Keywords

  • Coal fly ash
  • Human health
  • Nanomineralogy
  • Nanoparticles
  • Potential hazardous elements

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

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