physical separation of the cenospheres under gravity. The resulting CenTron™ product has particular applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Stage Two - Flotation circuit. The remaining slurry is then pumped into the flotation circuit, the central hub of the plant where pulp density is established and mixed with reagents to ensure product quality. The whole circuit is fully automated and insensitive to widely fluctuating changes in head grade. The culmination of these processes causes the carbon to float off. A cleaner circuit cleans it to increase the overall grade with a target of >90%. The carbon is then dewatered on a horizontal belt filter and, if required, flash dried. In filter cake form the carbon is ideal for reuse by the power station.
Stage Three - Magnetite removal. Following carbon removal, the remaining feed comprises alumino-silicate particles and spherical magnetic particles in the form of Fe3O4-Al2O3-SiO2. This spherical magnetic component may be recovered, de-watered and dispatched. Removal of the magnetite is discretionary. The remaining slurry is eventually separated into the RockTron Alpha and Delta products for the cementitious market.
Stage Four - Classification. The remaining alumino- silicates are then pumped into high efficiency hydrocyclones (used in the clay industry) and classified into two particle size groups resulting in the fine 6-10µm (d50) Alpha particles and the coarser 60-80µm (d50) Delta particles. Delta is then dewatered and stored in bulk. Alpha is dewatered to <0.5% moisture and stored in silos.
Un-beneficiated fly ashes have chemical and physical characteristics that limit their substitution levels due to their relatively low cementitious properties when compared with Ordinary Portland Cement (CEM I). RockTron’s beneficiated Alpha has significantly lower LOI (typically <5%) and a finer particle size. These
properties enable improved water reduction while increasing the cementitious contribution when used with CEM I, resulting from a beneficiating process that produces cementitious material, which is ‘manufactured’ to provide consistent quality, deliver greater fineness, a lighter colour, and is available to the market throughout the year.
These improved characteristics allow higher levels of cement substitution when compared with normal fly ash. Alpha is currently being used and certified in BS 8500 CEM IIB-V cements, which permits 21-35% Alpha content. Kirton Concrete and other independents are testing BS8500 CEM IVB-V cement combinations which may permit substitution at levels 35% - 55% of Alpha. This will allow structural engineers to design mass concretes based on project specifications. Cement companies can manufacture to the exact requirements of the customer, ensuring a later age strength and durability greater than that produced from OPC/CEM I alone.
This is reinforced by the characteristics of RockTron’s Alpha and Delta: BS EN 450 category A: Max LOI 5%: Alpha typically <5%; BS EN450 category S: Max particle size +45 micron of <12%; Alpha typically 5-6%.
RockTron Delta offers a coarser grade of particle size, making it ideal for applications where water reduction is less critical but the technical benefits of a pozzolanic material are needed, such as lean, precast and mass concrete.
This new technology has applications far beyond the first commercial plant in the UK and RockTron is currently negotiating new opportunities in the US, Asia, Europe and Russia.
ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY MAGAZINE |143|
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