title: The internal microstructure and fibrous mineralogy of fly ash from coal-burning power stations.
abstract: Coal fly ash (CFA) is a significant environmental pollutant that presents a respiratory hazard when airborne. Although previous studies have identified the mineral components of CFA, there is a paucity of information on the structural habits of these minerals. Samples from UK, Polish and Chinese power stations were studied to further our understanding of the factors that affect CFA geochemistry and mineralogy. ICP-MS, FE-SEM/EDX, XRD, and laser diffraction were used to study physicochemical characteristics. Analysis revealed important differences in the elemental compositions and particle size distributions of samples between sites. Microscopy of HF acid-etched CFA revealed the mullite present possesses a fibrous habit; fibres ranged in length between 1 and 10 μm. Respirable particles (<10 μm) were frequently observed to contain fibrous mullite. We propose that the biopersistence of these refractory fibres in the lung environment could be contributing towards chronic lung diseases seen in communities and individuals continually exposed to high levels of CFA.
authors: School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, Park Place, CF10 3YE Cardiff, UK. brownpd@cf.ac.uk
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Brown
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Jones
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: BéruBé
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D000397:Air Pollution; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D002681:China; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis; D060729:Coal Ash / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010316:Particle Size; D011044:Poland; D011210:Power Plants / Q000592:standards*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003031:Coal; D060729:Coal Ash; C049037:aluminosilicate