Advances in Nanoalumina Ceramic Particle Fabrication Using Sonofragmentation

Sonochemistry: Science and Engineering

Abstract: Sonochemistry offers a simple route to nanomaterial synthesis with the application of ultrasound. The tiny acoustic bubbles, produced by the propagating sound wave, enclose an incredible facility where matter interact among at energy as high as 13 eV to spark extraordinary chemical reactions. Within each period - formation, growth and collapse of bubbles, lies a coherent phase of material formation. This effective yet highly localized method has facilitated synthesis of various chemical and biological compounds featuring unique morphology and intrinsic property. The benign processing lends to synthesis without any discrimination towards a certain group of material, or the substrates where they are grown. As a result, new and improved applications have evolved to reach out various field of science and technology and helped engineer new and better devices. Along with the facile processing and notes on the essence of sonochemistry, in this comprehensive review, we discuss the individual and mutual effect of important input parameters on the nanomaterial synthesis process as a start to help understand the underlying mechanism. Secondly, an objective discussion of the diversely synthesized nanomaterial follows to divulge the easiness imparted by sonochemistry, which finally blends into the discussion of their applications and outreach.

Ultrasonic coal-wash for de-sulfurization.

Abstract: Coal is the one of the world's most abundant fossil fuel resources. It is not a clean fuel, as it contains ash and sulfur. SOx as a pollutant are a real threat to both the ecosystem and to human health. There are numerous de-sulfurization methods to control SO(2) emissions. Nowadays, online flue gas de-sulfurization is being used as one such method to remove sulfur from coal during combustion. The biggest disadvantage associated with this method is formation of by-products (FGD gypsum). A way for effective usage of FGD gypsum has not yet been found. This will lead to acute and chronic effects to humans as well as plants. Power ultrasound can be used for the beneficiation of coal by the removal of sulfur from coal prior to coal combustion. The main effects of ultrasound in liquid medium are acoustic cavitation and acoustic streaming. The process of formation, growth and implosion of bubbles is called cavitation. Bulk fluid motion due to sound energy absorption is known as acoustic streaming. In addition, coupling of an acoustic field to water produces OH radicals, H(2)O(2), O(2), ozone and HO(2) that are strong oxidizing agents. Oxidation that occurs due to ultrasound is called Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). It converts sulfur from coal to water-soluble sulphates. Conventional chemical-based soaking and stirring methods are compared here to ultrasonic methods of de-sulfurization. The main advantages of ultrasonic de-sulfurization over conventional methods, the mechanism involved in ultrasonic de-sulfurization and the difference between aqueous-based and solvent-based (2N HNO(3), 3-volume percentage H(2)O(2)) de-sulfurization are investigated experimentally.

The Effects of Ultrasound on Crystals: Sonocrystallization and Sonofragmentation

Abstract: When ultrasound is applied to a solution for crystallization, it can affect the properties of the crystalline products significantly. Ultrasonic irradiation decreases the induction time and metastable zone and increases the nucleation rate. Due to these effects, it generally yields smaller crystals with a narrower size distribution when compared with conventional crystallizations. Also, ultrasonic irradiation can cause fragmentation of existing crystals which is caused by crystal collisions or sonofragmentation. The effect of various experimental parameters and empirical products of sonocrystallization have been reported, but the mechanisms of sonocrystallization and sonofragmentation have not been confirmed clearly. In this review, we build upon previous studies and highlight the effects of ultrasound on the crystallization of organic molecules. In addition, recent work on sonofragmentation of molecular and ionic crystals is discussed.

Feasibility of using ultrasound-assisted process for sulfur and ash removal from coal

Abstract: The present work investigates utilization of ultrasound in reagent-based coal de-ashing and de-sulfurization. The coal under study was received from Girald mine, Rajasthan, India. Three different ultrasonic frequencies (25 kHz, Dual (58/192 kHz) and 430 kHz) and three reagents (HCl, HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 ) were used. The study employed a Taguchi fractional-factorial L 27 DOE. Experimental data were used to derive an empirical model for the prediction of total sulfur removal. The model incorporates cavitational intensity, reagent concentration, sonication time, coal particle size and coal concentration as key parameters. Effects of above factors on reagent-based ultrasonic coal-desulfurization are presented here. An optimum set of process parameters are identified and validated. Larger-scale trial with high-ash and high-sulfur coals is strongly recommended.

Investigation of High-Frequency, High-Intensity Ultrasonics for Size Reduction and Washing of Coal in Aqueous Medium

Abstract: While ultrasonic coal-wash is not entirely new in many countries, it has not yet been practiced in India, though it would appear that the relatively high-ash content of Indian coals would render th...

The effect of ultrasound on the particle size and structural disorder of a well-ordered kaolinite.

Abstract: The present study examined the effect of sonication on the particle size and structure of a well-crystallized (KGa-1) kaolinite from Georgia. Sonication produced an important delamination effect as well as a reduction of the other particle-size dimensions. The experiments, carried out under different experimental conditions, showed that particle-size reduction can be controlled through different variables such as power of ultrasonic processor, amount of sample (kaolinite + water), and time of treatment. As a consequence of this particle-size reduction the surface area increases sharply with the sonication time from 8.5 to 83 m2/g after 20 h with the most energetic treatment. Contrary to what is observed in the grinding treatment, sonication did not cause the amorphization of kaolinite, as observed by XRD and FTIR data. Nevertheless, ultrasound treatment increased the structural disorder, which consisted in increases in the proportion of specific translations (-a/3+b/3) between adjacent layers in the first hours of treatment, followed by increases in the proportion of random translations between layers.

Grain Size Dependence of Hardness in Dense Submicrometer Alumina

Abstract: Pressureless sintered alumina compacts with a submicrometer microstructure exhibit a hardness that approaches or even exceeds the level of advanced hot-pressed composites of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} + 35 vol% TiC, whereas the strength of both ceramics is approximately the same. The combination of reduced dislocation mobility (due to the small grain size), high density, and density homogeneity are the prerequisites for the surprisingly high hardness. Quasi-conventional powder processing is used to produce these outstanding alumina bodies.

Nanocomposites—a new material design concept

Abstract: Ceramic-based nanocomposites were reviewed, emphasizing the newly developed concept of material design for ceramics. First, characteristics of the nanocomposites observed by previous researchers were summarized as, significant or moderate improvement in strength, drastic change of the fracture mode from intergranular fracture of monolithic ceramics to transgranular fracture of nanocomposites, moderate enhancement of fracture toughness, improvement of other mechanical properties, and observations of dislocations. Second, several mechanisms proposed previously to explain these characteristics were reviewed. Third, our strengthening and toughening mechanisms of nanocomposites on the basis of dislocation activities were explained. In nanocomposites, the highly localized residual stresses in the matrix grains are generated by the mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients between the matrix and the dispersed particles, and the dislocations are yielded during the cooling process after sintering. These dislocations then release the tensile residual stresses intrinsically existing in the matrix grains of sintered ceramics and improve the strength of the materials. In addition, as these dislocations cannot move at room temperature the sessile dislocations in the matrix operate as nano-crack nuclei in a frontal process zone (FPZ) ahead of the crack tip when the tip of a propagating crack approaches this area. Therefore, the size of the FPZ is expanded and as a result the fracture toughness is improved. Finally, estimation of the critical FPZ size was explained in order to clarify its toughening mechanism in nanocomposites.

Ultrasonic fragmentation of agglomerate powders

Abstract: A theory for ultrasonic fragmentation of agglomerate particles suspended in liquids is presented. Imploding cavitation bubbles rupture the agglomerates. An expression for the fragmentation rate as a function of ultraosnic power and agglomerate size is derived. A sectional model for fragmentation is used to simulate the evolution of the particle size distribution of silica and titania powders suspended in water. The fragmentation rate expression is evaluated by comparing simulated with experimental size distributions at the self-preserving limit. The required time and energy for particle size reduction is calculated as a function of ultrasonic power input.

Characterization and synthesis of pure ZrO2 nanopowders via sonochemical method

Abstract: Pure ZrO{sub 2} nanopowders have been synthesized via sonochemical method, which is a simple and energy efficient way to synthesize inorganic materials. The as-synthesized samples (hydrous zirconia, ZrO{sub 2}{center_dot}nH{sub 2}O) are characterized by several techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), photoluminescence spectrometer (PLS) and Raman spectrometer (RS). It is shown that t-ZrO{sub 2} samples have two photoluminescence (PL) bands corresponding to the wavelengths of excitations of 254 and 412 nm. The structure of as-synthesized samples (ZrO{sub 2}{center_dot}nH{sub 2}O) and the formation mechanism of ZrO{sub 2} nanopowders are also discussed.