Publications by authors named "J C Hower"

The roles of Ca/Fe phases on selenium (Se) enrichment behavior in fly ash during coal combustion were investigated by examining the Ca/Fe mineralogy of various ash samples, exploring the binding forms of Se in fly ashes, and performing bench-scale adsorption experiments (150-1000 ℃). The results indicated that Se capture by fly ash is a function of flue gas temperature, particle size, and more importantly, the contents and form of Ca/Fe in combustion ash. Physical condensation/adsorption was mainly determined by temperature and particle size, contributing to less than 25% of total Se in fly ash.

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In this paper, heavy metals (i.e., V, Cr, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Sb) in soils from a tannery waste lagoon, Hebei, north China were investigated.

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Emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances contaminate waters at trace concentrations, thus rapid and selective adsorbents are pivotal to mitigate the consequent energy-intensive and time-consuming issues in remediation. In this study, coal combustion residuals-fly ash was modified (FA-SCA) to overcome the universal trade-off between high adsorption capacity and fast kinetics. FA-SCA presented rapid adsorption (t = 2 min) of PFOX (perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, collectively), where the dynamic adsorption capacity (q = q/t) was 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of benchmark activated carbons and anion-exchange resins.

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Quantitative characteristics and sizes of nanoparticles (NPs) in coal fly ash (CFA) produced in coal-fired power plants as a function of coal type and plant design will help reveal the NP emission likelihood and their environmental implications. However, little is known about how combustion conditions and types of coal regulate the NP abundance in CFAs. In this study, based on single particle (SP)-ICP-MS technology, particle number concentrations (PNCs) and sizes of Fe- and Ti-containing NPs in CFAs were determined for samples collected from power plants of different designs and burning different types of coal.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the mineral and chemical characteristics of mining and processing wastes in Owen County, specifically from the abandoned Gratz mine, conducted as part of a larger research initiative by the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy.
  • Multiple advanced analytical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, were used to analyze soil and spoil samples, revealing the primary minerals present, including calcite, quartz, and sulfides like sphalerite and galena.
  • Geochemical analysis showed a correlation between major and trace elements and their associated minerals, highlighting distinct groupings of trace elements linked to specific types of minerals, which helps understand the historical mining processes.
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