Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data

The recycling of coal gangue has considerable potential to produce secondary environmental hazards, which significantly influence the high-end application of coal gangue in practical engineering. The present study investigates the effects of activation treatment on the physical, chemical properties...

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Main Authors: Wangtao Fan, Yuan Chen, Runxia Zhang, Xiaoguang Chen, Jin Li, Zhaolin Gu, Jianyun Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/159
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author Wangtao Fan
Yuan Chen
Runxia Zhang
Xiaoguang Chen
Jin Li
Zhaolin Gu
Jianyun Wang
author_facet Wangtao Fan
Yuan Chen
Runxia Zhang
Xiaoguang Chen
Jin Li
Zhaolin Gu
Jianyun Wang
author_sort Wangtao Fan
collection DOAJ
description The recycling of coal gangue has considerable potential to produce secondary environmental hazards, which significantly influence the high-end application of coal gangue in practical engineering. The present study investigates the effects of activation treatment on the physical, chemical properties and leaching behavior of coal gangue. The mineral composition, micro-pore structure and element leaching were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetry Analysis (TG), Low-Temperature Nitrogen Adsorption (LTNA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The results indicate that kaolinite and pyrite in coal gangue experienced reconstruction after 600 °C during thermal activation. The density of thermally activated coal gangue is increased with the calcination temperature as well as the alkalinity (from 4.8–7.1) due to the burning of organic and the oxidation of pyrite. The calcination treatment induced the reduction in macropore volume (>50 nm), and enhancement in mesopore (<5 nm) volume. Leachable Ni, Cd, Mn, Cu, Zn and Pd decreased by 99%, 67%, 86%, 40%, 99% and 93% after calcination at 800 °C, respectively. The Si and Al in 800 °C calcined coal gangue exhibited a high leaching ability in alkalinity solution; leachable Al reached 106.4 mg/kg, while leachable Si reached 86.1 mg/kg after 48 h of dynamic leaching.
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spelling doaj-art-8a894b82ad31425787da62c9b430647d2025-01-24T13:26:00ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115215910.3390/buildings15020159Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching DataWangtao Fan0Yuan Chen1Runxia Zhang2Xiaoguang Chen3Jin Li4Zhaolin Gu5Jianyun Wang6Weibei Land Engineering Coltd of Shaanxi Land Construction Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 712039, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaTechnology Innovation Center for Land Engineering and Human Settlements by Shaanxi Land Engineering Construction Group Co., Ltd. and Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, ChinaThe recycling of coal gangue has considerable potential to produce secondary environmental hazards, which significantly influence the high-end application of coal gangue in practical engineering. The present study investigates the effects of activation treatment on the physical, chemical properties and leaching behavior of coal gangue. The mineral composition, micro-pore structure and element leaching were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetry Analysis (TG), Low-Temperature Nitrogen Adsorption (LTNA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The results indicate that kaolinite and pyrite in coal gangue experienced reconstruction after 600 °C during thermal activation. The density of thermally activated coal gangue is increased with the calcination temperature as well as the alkalinity (from 4.8–7.1) due to the burning of organic and the oxidation of pyrite. The calcination treatment induced the reduction in macropore volume (>50 nm), and enhancement in mesopore (<5 nm) volume. Leachable Ni, Cd, Mn, Cu, Zn and Pd decreased by 99%, 67%, 86%, 40%, 99% and 93% after calcination at 800 °C, respectively. The Si and Al in 800 °C calcined coal gangue exhibited a high leaching ability in alkalinity solution; leachable Al reached 106.4 mg/kg, while leachable Si reached 86.1 mg/kg after 48 h of dynamic leaching.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/159coal ganguethermal activationheavy metalleachingmicrostructure
spellingShingle Wangtao Fan
Yuan Chen
Runxia Zhang
Xiaoguang Chen
Jin Li
Zhaolin Gu
Jianyun Wang
Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
Buildings
coal gangue
thermal activation
heavy metal
leaching
microstructure
title Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
title_full Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
title_fullStr Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
title_short Impacts of Thermal Activation on Physical Properties of Coal Gangue: Integration of Microstructural and Leaching Data
title_sort impacts of thermal activation on physical properties of coal gangue integration of microstructural and leaching data
topic coal gangue
thermal activation
heavy metal
leaching
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/159
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AT xiaoguangchen impactsofthermalactivationonphysicalpropertiesofcoalgangueintegrationofmicrostructuralandleachingdata
AT jinli impactsofthermalactivationonphysicalpropertiesofcoalgangueintegrationofmicrostructuralandleachingdata
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