Structural formation and leaching behavior of mechanically activated lignite fly ash based geopolymer

Geopolymers are inorganic polymers which can be produced by the reaction of aluminium silicate oxides and alkaline silicates in an alkaline medium. Nowadays, silicate bearing wastes, such as fly ash or slag and other by-products of power stations are very common raw materials for geopolymers. In our research a lignite type fly ash was mechanically activated in a high energy density mill (HEM) for different retention time, and geopolymer specimens were produced from these materials. After determining the optimal fly ash fineness, the concentration and composition of the alkaline activator solution were also investigated. The highest compressive strength was reached using fly ash with 2 m2/g specific surface area, activated with a mixture of Na-K silicate (water glass) and NaOH solution. The total dosage of alkaline activators to the fly ash was 40 m/m%, the NaOH activator of 12 M solution represented 25 m/m %, while Na-K silicate 75 m/m%. Then, the leaching properties of the main components and the mobility of toxic elements of the produced geopolymers were tested in distilled water, 1M acetic acid and 1M hydrochloric acid as well. The lowest mobility of the elements was obtained in most cases by the activator containing 100m/m% Na-K silicate solution (water glass) using the mechanically activated fly ash

Diffusion-Limited Growth of Microbial Colonies.

The emergence of diffusion-limited growth (DLG) within a microbial colony on a solid substrate is studied using a combination of mathematical modelling and experiments. Using an agent-based model of the interaction between microbial cells and a diffusing nutrient, it is shown that growth directed towards a nutrient source may be used as an indicator that DLG is influencing the colony morphology. A continuous reaction-diffusion model for microbial growth is employed to identify the parameter regime in which DLG is expected to arise. Comparisons between the model and experimental data are used to argue that the bacterium Bacillus subtilis can undergo DLG, while the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot, and thus the non-uniform growth exhibited by this yeast must be caused by the pseudohyphal growth mode rather than limited nutrient availability. Experiments testing directly for DLG features in yeast colonies are used to confirm this hypothesis

Diffusion-Limited Growth of Microbial Colonies.

The emergence of diffusion-limited growth (DLG) within a microbial colony on a solid substrate is studied using a combination of mathematical modelling and experiments. Using an agent-based model of the interaction between microbial cells and a diffusing nutrient, it is shown that growth directed towards a nutrient source may be used as an indicator that DLG is influencing the colony morphology. A continuous reaction-diffusion model for microbial growth is employed to identify the parameter regime in which DLG is expected to arise. Comparisons between the model and experimental data are used to argue that the bacterium Bacillus subtilis can undergo DLG, while the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cannot, and thus the non-uniform growth exhibited by this yeast must be caused by the pseudohyphal growth mode rather than limited nutrient availability. Experiments testing directly for DLG features in yeast colonies are used to confirm this hypothesis