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Microstructure and Physical Properties of Lightweight Aggregates Produced by Alkali Activation-High Shear Granulation of FBC Recovered Fuel-Biofuel Fly Ash

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Abstract

The fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) is an environmentally-friendly way to combust biomass and waste materials. However, as a side-product large amount of ash is created which is difficult to utilize due to its low reactivity and high heavy metal content. Instead, most of the ash ends up in landfills so novel utilization methods are needed. In this study lightweight aggregates (LWAs) were produced from recovered fuel-biofuel fly ash taken from a F boiler by granulating the fly ash with sodium silicate in a high-shear granulator. Blast furnace slag and metakaolin were studied as co-binders. Physical, chemical, and microstructural characterization was conducted for the precursors and LWAs. The crushing strength varied between 4.6 and 14.6 MPa. Addition of co-binders increased strength and produced denser structure. The loose bulk density was <1.08 g/cm3 and dry particle density was <1.77 g/cm3 for all prepared granules so they met the definition of lightweight aggregate in standard SFS-EN 13055-1. LWAs contained X-ray-amorphous material, indicating the formation of aluminosilicates and some crystalline phases, which were derived from the fly ash. This study presents a method of producing LWAs from fly ash that have physical properties comparable to LWAs manufactured by conventional methods without the need for high-temperature sintering or the usage of cement.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out under the auspices of the GEOPO Project, supported by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) and various companies (Boliden Harjavalta, Ekokem, Fortum, Helen Oy, Jyväskylän Energia, Kemira, Valmet Power, Metsä Group, Rovaniemen Energia, Stora Enso, and UPM). The authors would like to thank the Renlund Foundation for its financial support. Mr. Jarno Karvonen and Mr. Jani Österlund are acknowledged for their contributions to the laboratory analyses. The personnel of Center of Microscopy and Nanotechnology are acknowledged for their contributions to the FESEM- and XRD-analyses.

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  1. Fibre and Particle Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Juho Yliniemi & Mirja Illikainen

  2. Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Center for Molecular Materials, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland

    Minna Tiainen

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  1. Juho Yliniemi
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Yliniemi, J., Tiainen, M. & Illikainen, M. Microstructure and Physical Properties of Lightweight Aggregates Produced by Alkali Activation-High Shear Granulation of FBC Recovered Fuel-Biofuel Fly Ash. Waste Biomass Valor 7, 1235–1244 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-016-9509-1

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