V and Cr substitution in dicalcium silicate under oxidizing and reducing conditions - Synthesis, reactivity, and leaching behavior studies.

Dicalcium silicate (CS) is known to incorporate potentially hazardous metals (Cr and V) in a belite-rich cementitious system. The effect of the electrovalence nature of V and Cr on CS polymorphs' (α´, β, γ) stability under oxidizing and reducing conditions as well as their reactivity are systematically investigated via analyzing oxidation states, phase composition, bonding system, and microstructure as well as oxide composition quantitively. It is shown that CS can incorporate Cr (VI) and V(V) consequently leading to stabilization of α´, β-CS.

The immobilization of potentially toxic elements due to incineration and weathering of bottom ash fines.

Incineration bottom ash fines (≤ 125 μm) are known to contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and inorganic salts. The most abundant PTEs in the fines were Zn (0.5%), Cu (0.

In-depth mineralogical quantification of MSWI bottom ash phases and their association with potentially toxic elements.

Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash fractions ≤4 mm are the most contaminated ones in terms of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In order to estimate potential environmental impacts, it is important to understand the association of the PTEs with the mineral phases. Large area phase mapping (SEM/EDX) using "PhAse Recognition and Characterization - PARC" software in combination with quantitative X-ray powder diffraction has been used to characterize amorphous and crystalline BA phases for the first time.

Changes in mineralogical and leaching properties of converter steel slag resulting from accelerated carbonation at low CO2 pressure.

Steel slag can be applied as substitute for natural aggregates in construction applications. The material imposes a high pH (typically 12.5) and low redox potential (Eh), which may lead to environmental problems in specific application scenarios.

A SEM-EDS study of cultural heritage objects with interpretation of constituents and their distribution using PARC data analysis.

Two cultural heritage objects studied with scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are presented in this article: (1) archeological iron present in a soil sample and (2) a chip from a purple-colored area of an undisclosed 17th century painting. Novel PARC software was used to interpret the data in terms of quantitative distribution of mineral and organo-mineral phases as well as their chemical composition. The study serves to demonstrate the power of PARC rather than solving specific archeological issues.

A chemical and mineralogical reconstruction of Zn-smelter emissions in the Kempen region (Belgium), based on organic pool sediment cores.

The atmospheric pollution history of a former Belgian Zn-smelter complex is preserved in organic sediments of a nearby peat bog pool. The stratigraphy of trace metals, Pb-isotope ratios and mineralogy indicate extreme heavy metal pollution in recent sediments. In the pollutant trend, extremes coincide with maxima in 20th century metal production, minima during major war conflicts and the final shutdown of the smelter.