Distribution of Rare-Earth Elements in Ashes Produced in the Coal Combustion Process from Power Boilers

Zdzisław Adamczyk (), Joanna Komorek, Magdalena Kokowska-Pawłowska and Jacek Nowak
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Zdzisław Adamczyk: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Joanna Komorek: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Magdalena Kokowska-Pawłowska: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Jacek Nowak: Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: The growing demand for rare-earth elements and yttrium (REY) in modern technologies has resulted in the systematic depletion of primary ores. For this reason, research is being conducted around the world on alternative sources of rare-earth elements, e.g., on the possibilities of recovering REY from coal waste or coal combustion. The article presents the results of comprehensive tests of the fuel—hard coal, and high-temperature HTA ash, fly ash, and bottom ash. Examined samples were taken from a Polish power plant. In the tests, fuel quality parameters were determined in accordance with the standards; microscopic observations in reflected and transmitted light, as well as a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDS), were used, and chemical and phase composition were determined using ICP-MS and XRD methods, respectively. The distribution of REY between these ashes was analyzed. Their suitability as alternative sources of REY was assessed. The obtained results showed that the process of hard coal combustion in pulverized coal boilers influenced the geochemical differentiation of REY elements in energy waste. This differentiation is manifested by higher concentrations of REY and critical elements in the fly ash than in the bottom ash. The obtained values of the C outl prospective coefficient made it possible to classify the analyzed fly and bottom ashes as prospective REY raw materials.

Keywords: coal; fly ash; bottom ash; rare-earth elements; yttrium; REY; critical raw materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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