US Egypt Cooperative Research - A Novel Approach for Fabrication Technology of Mullite Nanoparticles from Industrial Wastes for Advanced Applications

1103598本项目支持盖恩斯维尔佛罗里达大学Kevin Powers博士和埃及Helwan中央冶金研究与发展研究所（CMRDI） Mohamed M. Rashad博士的合作研究项目。他们计划研究一种从工业废料中制造莫来石纳米颗粒的新方法，以供先进应用。其目标是开发先进技术，回收和处理埃及制铝过程中产生的二氧化硅废水、硅铁合金公司产生的硅灰、埃及铝业公司产生的铝渣和埃及铝业公司产生的铝废水，以生产用于耐火材料、电子和光学应用的莫来石纳米颗粒3Al2O3.2SiO2。所开发的技术同样适用于以弗吉尼亚州/北卡罗来纳州和佐治亚州矿区为中心的美国工业，并对美国炼钢工业产生影响。该技术依赖于在特定条件下化学处理铝酸钠NaAlO2和硅酸钠Na2SiO3的可溶溶液的形成。研究了合成条件、温度、时间、pH、摩尔比和晶体改性剂对晶体结构、尺寸和微观结构的影响，确定了最佳合成条件。此外，还将测量表面积SBET、直流电阻率、光学和机械性能的变化。该研究有可能将当前生产方法产生的不良副产品转化为莫来石制造业的高附加值产品。拟议工作的教育方面侧重于培训年轻的埃及科学家掌握先进的表征技术，并培训年轻的美国科学家利用技术进步提高传统矿物生产实践的效率和可持续性。该项目还汇集了美国（PERC）和埃及（CMRDI）的粒子技术专家的国际专业知识。知识价值：全球对钢铁和其他工业产品的需求急剧增加，同时也带来了对矿物资源的需求增加，如用于耐火材料、玻璃、白色器皿和其他陶瓷产品的蓝晶石、红柱石、硅线石和莫来石。开采、提炼和加工这些日益减少的资源需要大量的能源和水。本文研究的先进方法将使人们对回收工业废物和有价值的最终产品有更深入的了解、更高的效率和潜在的新用途。更广泛的影响：在新兴和发达的工业化国家，将曾经的工业废物回收利用为可销售的产品是实现可持续能源和水利用实践的自然途径。根据本提案开发的技术和工艺可以在新兴经济体中实施，并以对环境负责和经济上可行的方式用于振兴美国国内的生产和实践。该项目将帮助埃及科学家学习先进的表征技术，并向新一代美国工程专业学生重新介绍传统的矿物工程原理。该提议得到了美国-埃及联合基金项目的支持，其中美国国家科学基金会支持美方，埃及政府资助埃及方面。

1103598 This project supports a cooperative research project by Dr. Kevin Powers, University of Florida, Gainesville and Dr. Mohamed M. Rashad, Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI), Helwan, Egypt. They plan to study a novel approach for fabrication technology of mullite nanoparticles from industrial wastes for advanced applications. The objective is to develop advanced technologies to recycle and process silica effluents disposed from aluminum manufacturing in Egypt, silica fume from Ferro-silicon Alloys Company, Al dross from Egyptian Aluminum Company and aluminum effluents disposed from Egyptalum Company for the production of mullite nanoparticles 3Al2O3.2SiO2 used in refractory, electronic and optical applications. The technology to be developed is equally applicable to the U.S. industry centered in the Virginia/North Carolina and Georgia mining districts and has implications for the U.S. steelmaking industry. The technology depends on the formation of soluble solutions of sodium aluminate NaAlO2 and sodium silicate Na2SiO3 chemically treated under specified conditions. The effect of synthesis conditions, temperature, time, pH, molar ratio and the crystal modifiers on the crystal structure, size and microstructure will be studied and the optimum conditions determined. Moreover, the changes in the surface area SBET, DC resistivity, optical and mechanical properties will be measured. The research has the potential to transform undesirable by-products generated under current production methods into a high value added product for the mullite manufacturing industry. The educational aspects of the proposed work focus on the training of young Egyptian scientists in advanced characterization techniques and young U.S. scientists in the use of technological advances to improve the efficiency and sustainability of traditional mineral production practices. This project also brings together the international expertise of particles in USA (PERC) with the particle technology experts in Egypt (CMRDI). Intellectual Merit: The dramatic increase in worldwide demand for steel and other industrial products brings with it a concurrent increased demand for mineral resources such as Kyanite, Andalusite, Sillimanite and Mullite used for refractories, glass, white wares and other ceramic products. The mining, refining and processing of these diminishing resources is intensive in energy and water use. The advanced methods investigated herein will lead to a greater understanding, greater efficiency and potential new uses for recycled industrial wastes and valuable end products. Broader Impacts: Recycling what once was industrial waste into a marketable product is a natural avenue toward achieving sustainable energy and water use practices in both emerging and advanced industrialized countries. The techniques and processes developed under this proposal can be implemented in emerging economies and used to revitalize U.S. domestic production and practices in an environmentally responsible and economically feasible manner. The project will help educate Egyptian scientists in advanced characterization techniques and re-introduce traditional mineral engineering principles to a new generation of U.S. engineering students.This proposal is supported under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program where NSF supports the US side and the Government of Egypt funds the Egyptian side.