title: Identification of nanominerals and nanoparticles in burning coal waste piles from Portugal.
abstract: A range of carbon nanoparticles, agglomerates and mineral phases have been identified in burning coal waste pile materials from the Douro Coalfield of Portugal, as a basis for identifying their potential environmental and human health impacts. The fragile nature and fine particle size of these materials required novel characterization methods, including energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. The chemical composition and possible correlations with morphology of the nanominerals and associated ultra-fine particles have been evaluated in the context of human health exposure, as well as in relation to management of such components in coal-fire environments.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Geologia, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Deolinda
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Colin R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Luis F O
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011174:Portugal; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003031:Coal; D008903:Minerals; D014866:Waste Products; D002244:Carbon