NCER Assistance Agreement Final Project Summary

 

Date of Final Report: June 5, 2007

EPA Agreement Number: X-83254101-0

Center: Center for Environmental and Energy Research (CEER)

Project Title: Material and Environmental Sustainability in Ceramic Processing

Investigator(s):  William M. Carty

Institution(s) of PI(s): Alfred University

Research Category: Congressionally Mandated Center

Project Period: October 1, 2005 – September 30, 2006

 

 

Description and Objective of Project:

 

It is theorized that froth flotation can be used to separate frit from pigment in waste glaze systems.  In this way components from glaze could be separated, purified and reused in the process.  Froth flotation is feasible because it exploits surface chemistry differences, and the pigment and frit particles typically have substantially different surface chemistries. 

 

In order to effectively model the surface chemistry of glaze components, four titrations were done. 

The first titration was 2.5 grams of 3124 Ferro Frit in 100 ml of water.        

The second titration was 2.5 grams of Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment in 100 ml of water. 

The third titration was 2.5 grams of Ferro 3124 Frit in 100 ml of water.

The fourth titration was 2.5 grams of Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment in 100 ml of water.

 

 

Summary of Findings:

 

Materials Characterization

The density of 3124 Ferro Frit and Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment was measured to be 2.4911 g/cm3 and 5.0703 g/cm3 respectively.  The single point, BET and Langmuir surface area of 3124 Ferro Frit was determined to be 0.67945 m2/g, 0.69545 m2/g and 1.0901 m2/g respectively.  The single point, BET and Langmuir surface area of Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment was determined to be 1.81365 m2/g, 1.85055 m2/g and 2.9035 m2/g respectively.  From the surface area (SA) and density (r) measurements the spherical particle diameter was estimated using the following equation (units are shown in parenthesis):

 

Diameter (mm) = 6 / SA (m2/g) x r (g/cm3)        

 

Substituting the 3124 Ferro Frit single point surface area and density values into the equation, the diameter was estimated to be 3.54 mm.  Substituting the Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment single point surface area and density values into the equation, the diameter was calculated to be 0.652 mm.

 

Flotation Studies

Flotation cells were set up containing 7.5 grams 3124 Frit and 2.5 grams Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment (10 grams of glaze material total).  The anionic collector used was Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS).  The cationic collector used was Dodeclyamine.  The amount of collector used was 0.2g, 0.1g, 0.05g and 0.01g.  It was found that SDS was not efficient in flotation, whereas the Dodecylamine effectively floated the vast majority of material (95% plus) but density measurements confirm that the flotation was not selective between the frit and pigment.

 

The results of these trials are tabulated below.



 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions:

 

Year One Conclusions

1) Dodecylamine is an excellent collector for the 3124 Ferro Frit and Mason Chrome Free Black Pigment system (over 95% of material can be floated).

 

2) Density measurements show that non-selective flotation of the frit and pigment was achieved with only Dodecylamine addition.

 

[This project is continuing with funding from EPA grant no. X-83254101-1]

 

Year Two Goals

1) Use the Acid to Base and Base to Acid titration data to select optimal flotation pH based on differential surface chemistry of the materials.

 

2) Improve flotation selectivity, possibly with the use of a depressant to decrease reactivity of one, either the frit or pigment.

 

Publications/Presentations:  N/A

 

Supplemental Key Words:  froth flotation, waste glaze recovery, glaze recycling, surface chemistry

 

Relevant Web Sites: http://ceer.alfred.edu