Calcined sludge sintering evaluation by heating microscopy thermal analysis

• Published in: Journal of thermal analysis and calorimetry Vol. 95; no. 3; pp. 985 - 989
• Main Authors: Dweck, J., Morais, L. C., Fonseca, M. V. A., Campos, V., Büchler, P. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2009; Springer
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Ceramic industries; Chemical industry and chemicals; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Physical Chemistry; Pollution; Polymer Sciences; Regular Papers; Wastes; SEM; X-ray dispersive energy; sludge; heating microscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry; Sintering; Morphology; Thermal analysis; Sewage sludge; Calcining; Surface structure
• ISSN: 1388-6150; 1588-2926; 1572-8943
• DOI: 10.1007/s10973-008-9115-y

Aiming the use of the sewage sludge produced in one of the largest Brazilian wastewater treatment stations as a raw material for the ceramic industry, the sintering process of the ashes produced from its calcination was evaluated by heating microscopy thermal analysis (HMTA). From the microprocessed images, a method was developed to obtain HMTA dimensional change curves as a function of temperature, equivalent to those usually obtained from dilatometers or by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). The final product after sintering at 1050°C, characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray dispersive energy, indicates the presence of a vitreous phase containing phosphorus, which explains the good sintering properties of the studied calcined sludge, as shown from its HMTA dimensional change curve.