There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

Phd by thesis

Analysis of XPS spectra of Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions in oxide materials

An assessment of high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM). An invited review

Rapid growth in the market for electric vehicles is imperative, to meet global targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to improve air quality in urban centres and to meet the needs of consumers, with whom electric vehicles are increasingly popular. However, growing numbers of electric vehicles present a serious waste-management challenge for recyclers at end-of-life. Nevertheless, spent batteries may also present an opportunity as manufacturers require access to strategic elements and critical materials for key components in electric-vehicle manufacture: recycled lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles could provide a valuable secondary source of materials. Here we outline and evaluate the current range of approaches to electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery recycling and re-use, and highlight areas for future progress. Processes for dismantling and recycling lithium-ion battery packs from scrap electric vehicles are outlined.

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Recycling lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles

The effects of partial pressure of sulphur dioxide on the gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-Si system at 1 200 degrees C have been experimentally investigated and compared with the previous studies at various P(SO2). The experimental procedure includes equilibration of the sample and silica substrate at high temperature for the designated time, rapid quenching to preserve the equilibrium phases, followed by measuring the composition of the condensed phases with electron probe X-ray microanalysis. A set of graphs were constructed to present the compositions of slag and matte as a function of copper concentration in matte. The present study confirmed that the chemically dissolved copper and sulphur for the given Cu in matte are independent of the partial pressure of SO2. However, the experimentally measured liquidus (Fe/SiO2) are different for various P(SO2). The new data provide an important, accurate and reliable quantitative foundation for improvement of the thermodynamic databases for the chemical systems containing copper matte and slag. The present study is a part of a broader overall research program on the characterisation of the multi component (Cu-Fe-O-S-Si-Al-CaMg), multi-phase (gas/slag/matte/metal/solids) systems with minor elements.

Experimental investigation of gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu–Fe–O–S–Si system in controlled gas atmosphere at T = 1 200 °C and P(SO2) = 0.1 atm

Phase-equilibrium data and the liquidus for the system “MnO”-CaO-(Al2O3-SiO2) at a manganese-rich alloy saturation have been determined in the temperature range from 1423 to 1723 K. The results are presented in the form of a pseudoternary section “MnO”-CaO-(Al2O3 + SiO2) with an Al2O3/SiO2 weight ratio of 0.41. The following primary phases are present in the range of conditions investigated: 3Al2O3·2SiO2; SiO2; MnO·Al2O3·2SiO2; (Mn,Ca)O·SiO2; 2(Mn,Ca)O·SiO2; MnO·Al2O3; (Mn,Ca)O; α-2CaO·SiO2; α′-2CaO·SiO2; 2CaO·Al2O3·SiO2; CaO·SiO2, and CaO·Al2O3·2SiO2. The presence of alumina in this system is shown to have a significant effect on the liquidus compared to the system “MnO”-CaO-SiO2, leading to the stabilization of the anorthite and gehlenite phases.

Phase equilibrium data and liquidus for the system "MnO"-CaO-(Al2O3+SiO2) at Al2O3/SiO2=0.41

Zincite and spinel phases are present in the complex slag systems encountered in zinc/lead sintering and zinc smelting processes These phases form extensive solid solutions and are stable over a wide range of compositions, temperatures and oxygen partial pressures Accurate information on the stability of these phases is required in order to develop thermodynamic models of these slag systems Phase equilibria in the Fe–Zn–O system have been experimentally studied for a range of conditions, between 900°C and 1580°C and oxygen partial pressures (pO2) between air and metallic iron saturation, using equilibration and quenching techniques The compositions of the phases were measured using Electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) The ferrous and ferric bulk iron concentrations were determined using a specially developed wet-chemical analysis procedure based on the use of ammonium metavanadate XRD was used to confirm phase identification A procedure was developed to overcome the problems associated with evaporation of zinc at low pO2 values and to ensure the achievement of equilibria An isothermal section of the system FeO–Fe2O3–ZnO at high ZnO concentrations at 1200°C was constructed The maximum solubilities of iron and zinc in zincite and spinel phases in equilibrium were determined at pO2 = 1 × 10-6 atm at 1200°C and 1300°C The morphology of the zincite crystals sharply changes in air between 1200–1300°C from rounded to plate-like This is shown to be associated with significant increase in total iron concentration, the additional iron being principally in the form of ferric iron Calculations performed by FactSage with a thermodynamically optimised database have been compared with the experimental results

Phase equilibria in the Fe–Zn–O system at conditions relevant to zinc sintering and smelting

Recent studies have indicated that the steady state thicknesses and interface temperatures of freeze linings can be influenced by factors other than the thermal parameters of the systems. To explore these possibilities further cold modelling of freeze linings was undertaken in the CaCl–HO system using an experimental apparatus that enabled the variation of both the bath temperature and the fluid flow rate. Through in situ experimental observations, it was shown that the phases formed, the deposit/liquid interface temperature and the freeze lining thicknesses depend strongly on chemical parameters and elementary reaction steps, which are not considered by the conventional thermal treatment of freeze linings. These results indicate the need for further systematic investigation of various process parameters that influence the elementary reaction steps that may be active in these systems under dynamic steady state conditions.

An investigation of factors influencing freeze lining behaviour

Hydrometallurgical zinc leach residue, EAF dust and other Zn-bearing by-products pose potentially serious environmental problems that threaten the sustainability of the operations. A pyrometallurgical process designed for treatment of such residues is the high-temperature submerged plasma Zn-fuming process. The successful operation of this process requires high Zn fuming rates whilst retaining vessel integrity through stable freeze-lining. A Zn-fuming model has been developed and used to systematically investigate a range of operating scenarios and to identify potential fluxing parameters such as CaO/SiO
 , Fe/SiO
 , MgO/feed-ratios in the input and fluxing additions of dolomite for maximum fuming rates and stable freeze-lining.

Peter C. Hayes

Papers

Experimental investigation of gas/slag/matte/tridymite equilibria in the Cu–Fe–O–S–Si system in controlled gas atmosphere at T = 1 200 °C and P(SO2) = 0.1 atm

Phase equilibrium data and liquidus for the system "MnO"-CaO-(Al2O3+SiO2) at Al2O3/SiO2=0.41

Phase equilibria in the Fe–Zn–O system at conditions relevant to zinc sintering and smelting

An investigation of factors influencing freeze lining behaviour

Freeze linings in zinc fuming processes