Froth flotation of carbon from fly ash using environmentally friendly oil/method of removing carbon from fly ash  A froth flotation method is provided for removing carbon from fly ash which utilizes an environmental friendly conditioning agent. The conditioning agent preferably comprises a biodegradable oil which is added to a slurry containing raw fly ash and water. The conditioning agent renders the carbon in the fly ash hydrophobic such that upon aeration of the slurry, air bubbles attach to the carbon particles and carry them to the surface of the slurry in the form of a froth, such that the carbon may be removed. |
Removal of ammonia from fly ash A method for removing ammonia and ammonia compounds from fly ash and other combustion by-products is provided. The method may be performed with raw or processed fly ash, or it may be performed in conjunction with a wet beneficiation process. The method involves mixing the ammonia-contaminated fly ash with water and then filtering and/or drying the solution to remove the ammonia and water. The method produces fly ash having an ammonia content of less than about 60-80 ppm, which allows the fly ash to be utilized in a number of applications. |
Regeneration of granular activated carbon and synthetic adsorbents using photocatalytic oxidation The present invention is a method of purifying fluid having organic material. The method comprises two operational steps. The first step includes passing the fluid through an adsorbent such that the organic material is substantially adsorbed by the adsorbent and the fluid is substantially purified. The second step includes destroying the adsorbed organic material on the adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent in a form substantially free of adsorbed organic material. |
Wet process for fly ash beneficiation A wet process for the beneficiation of a fly ash by-product has the following steps: a) forming a slurry mixture of a fly ash material and a liquid; b) gravitationally separating and collecting a first material fraction of the fly ash having a density less than the liquid by skimming off floating slurry material; c) separating a first magnetic fraction from the slurry by subjecting a first magnetic fraction from the slurry by subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field of from about 300 gauss to about 10 kilogauss; d) separating the unburned carbon from the remaining slurry components by adding an effective amount of an oil having a carbon chain greater than octane, and a frothing agent whereby the oil coats the unburned carbon forming hydrophobic carbon materials and inducing air into the system for frothing the slurry mixture wherein the hydrophobic unburned carbon froths to the surface and is removed by skimming off the frothing layer; and e) collecting the remaining fraction of silicate spheres and silicates. |
Development of Green Organic Catalysts  This research program is focused on development of green organic catalysts based on an architecture of buckminsterfullerene (C60) molecules surrounding either a polymer resin bead or dendrimer. These catalysts are activated by light and can function in either organic or aqueous media. We hope to further develop the catalysts to the point where we can carry out stereoselective oxidations and/or decontaminate water. |
Recovery of Polystyrene in Lost Foam This technology emerged from a research program initiated to assist the metal casting industry in prevention of polymer waste disposal, and to promote engineering solutions leading to reuse of the polymer. Our research strategy was based the principles of modern mineral processing technology to polymer recovery. The program includes particulate characterization, examination of surface-interfacial properties of the pattern components, development of an analytical technique for contaminant concentration measurements, shredding and size reduction, and selective separation testing based on component density. Our results indicate that as high as 98% of the polystyrene can be recovered, while the level of coating contaminants did not exceed 5 wt% in the final product, after using the developed technology. |
Purification of PET from PVC A technology involving treatment of PET and PVC particles with alkaline solutions followed by froth flotation of PVC with noinonc surfactants has been developed. In development research, this technology yielded 95-100% recovery of PET and PVC in separate products from a variety of PVC/PET mixtures. |
Materials Processing, Prototyping and Recycling This research program is focused on the processing, prototyping and recycling of plastics and composite materials. Recent focus has been on the effects of flatwise tensile strength and shear strength when using recycled epoxy/fiberglass composite powder as a filler material in fiberglass and foam core sandwich panels. Additional work has been devoted to an alternative mechanical peel testing method for composite fiberglass foam core sandwiches. |
home | about us | contact us
Powered by IEI © 2006 - 2010 | All rights reserved.