Journal of Materials Science Research and Reviews

The Characterization of Fly Ash during High Temperature Oxidation of Galvanized Steel

Maame Adwoa Bentumah Animpong *

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, P.O.Box LG 576, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Robert Kwame Nkum

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

William Owusu Oduro

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, P.O.Box LG 576, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Elizabeth Von-Kiti

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, P.O.Box LG 576, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Benjamin Adjei Tuffour

University of Ghana, P.O.Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Andy Quarshie

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Industrial Research, P.O.Box LG 576, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Fly Ash, a solid waste (particulate matter) generated from a steel smelting plant was analyzed and characterized. Physical and chemical investigations of the fly ash from a steel manufacturing company was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Hot stage Microscopy (HSM) to determine it properties. The fly ash sample comprised mainly of Fe, Zn, Mg, Si and Na. Zinc and Iron, the most abundant elements in the fly ash were found to be in the oxides. The amorphous nature of the ash had some distinct compounds and minerals, which had Gordaite being formed as one of the major phases as a result of the high temperature oxidation of galvanized steel auto parts. The other phases formed were Si₅O₁₅ and Zinc Ferrite. From the analysis, it was found out that Zinc Ferrites compounds were formed from the reaction of iron oxides and zinc oxide at high temperatures. Technologies can be developed for gainful utilization of the fly ash in the manufacture of new products.

Keywords: Fly ash, X-ray diffraction, hot stage microscopy, chemical analysis.

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