Waste Management in Oil Shale

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 January 2021) | Viewed by 5449

Special Issue Editors

Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Rd. 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Interests: inorganic wastes; CO2 mineralization; oil shale ash; CCUS; carbonate-bonded lightweight construction materials

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Guest Editor
Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate Rd. 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
Interests: combustion of fossil fuels; chemical kinetics; CCUS; CO2 mineralization; mineral waste utilization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The combustion of solid fuels, especially low-calorific fuels like oil shale, produces a large amount of solid waste. The processing technologies are primarily focused on the efficiency of power and oil production, and have thus overlooked the solid waste issue. This Special Issue aims to fill that gap by providing innovative optimization strategies for waste minimization in the oil shale sector. Diminishing the environmental impact and generating value-added products contributes to the more sustainable utilization of oil shale. The goal is to bring together corresponding studies dealing with the detailed characterization of oil shale mining and processing wastes as well as valid technological means for altering their properties in accordance with potential environmental and economic aspects of ash utilization.

Dr. Mai Uibu
Dr. Can Rüstü Yörük
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • oil shale ash
  • waste management
  • circular economy
  • lightweight building materials
  • cement
  • granulation
  • mineral carbonation
  • CO2 capture
  • back-filling
  • carbonate bonded aggregates
  • ceramics
  • microstructure
  • stabilization/solidification
  • geopolymers
  • alkaline activation
  • compressive strength
  • minerology

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 4031 KiB  
Article
Study of Thermooxidation of Oil Shale Samples and Basics of Processes for Utilization of Oil Shale Ashes
by Tiit Kaljuvee, Mai Uibu, Can Rüstü Yörük, Marve Einard, Andres Trikkel, Rein Kuusik, Olev Trass, Igor Štubňa, Tomáš Húlan, Valli Loide and Jekaterina Jefimova
Minerals 2021, 11(2), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11020193 - 12 Feb 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1733
Abstract
A circular economy becomes an object of actual discussions as a real alternative to the existing linear economy system. The problem is actually in Estonia also, first of all in the sector of heat and power production which based mainly on the combustion [...] Read more.
A circular economy becomes an object of actual discussions as a real alternative to the existing linear economy system. The problem is actually in Estonia also, first of all in the sector of heat and power production which based mainly on the combustion of local solid fossil fuel—Estonian oil shale (OS) resulting in the formation of ~5–6 million tons of OS ashes annually. The thermooxidative decomposition of OS samples from different deposits and estimation of the possibilities of utilization of OS ashes formed at both—pulverized firing (PF) and circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) of Estonian OS were studied. The thermal analysis combined with evolved gas analysis (EGA) methods like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and mass-spectroscopy (MS) was exploited. It was established that the differences in the thermal behaviour of different OS samples are caused by the differences in the chemical matrix of organic matter, chemical and mineralogical composition of the inorganic part of OS, and morphology of samples. It was also found that moderate grinding of OS ashes with simultaneous moderate water treatment notably improved the SO2 binding efficiency of cyclone ash, and that the strength and leachability characteristics of granulated OS ashes strongly depend on the post-granulation treatment conditions allowing to increase the soil neutralizing ability of the granulated products. This overview was based on our investigations carried out during the last fifteen years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management in Oil Shale)
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19 pages, 2535 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of New Applications of Oil Shale Ashes in Building Materials
by Mustafa Cem Usta, Can Rüstü Yörük, Tiina Hain, Peeter Paaver, Ruben Snellings, Eduard Rozov, Andre Gregor, Rein Kuusik, Andres Trikkel and Mai Uibu
Minerals 2020, 10(9), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/min10090765 - 29 Aug 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3277
Abstract
Achieving sustainable zero-waste and carbon neutral solutions that contribute to a circular economy is critically important for the long-term prosperity and continuity of traditional carbon-based energy industries. The Estonian oil shale (OS) sector is an example where such solutions are more than welcome. [...] Read more.
Achieving sustainable zero-waste and carbon neutral solutions that contribute to a circular economy is critically important for the long-term prosperity and continuity of traditional carbon-based energy industries. The Estonian oil shale (OS) sector is an example where such solutions are more than welcome. The combustion of OS generates a continuous flow of ashes destined to landfills. In this study, the technical feasibility of producing monolith building materials incorporating different OS ashes from Estonia was evaluated. Three binder systems were studied: self-cementation of the ashes, ceramic sintering in clay brick production and accelerated carbonation of OS ash (OSA) compacts. Results showed that most of the OSAs studied have low self-cementitious properties and these properties were affected by ash fineness and mineralogical composition. In case of clay bricks, OSA addition resulted in a higher porosity and improved insulation properties. The carbonated OSA compacts showed promising compressive strength. Accelerated carbonation of compacted samples was found to be the most promising way for the future utilization of OSAs as sustainable zero-waste and carbon neutral solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Management in Oil Shale)
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