Characterization of physical and chemical properties of carbonate rocks for sustainable and optimized production
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Geologiska institutionen |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 800 000 |
| Project duration | September 2014 - January 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The project´s aim has been to increase the knowledge of the geochemistry and calcination properties of carbonate rocks relevant to the steel and paper industries and uses within the environmental sector. Four studies have been conducted. Two are geochemical/petrological studies focusing on S and Cd in limestone. The third study examines the role of dolomite in the thermal breakdown of limestones . The last study concerns high-resolution x-ray scanning methods to characterize chemical variation on mm scale in cores and 3D distribution of minerals and fractures in limestone.
Expected results and effects
During calcination only a minor fraction of the S is leaving the rock. To reduce the S-content, low-S raw materials have to be selected. The study of Cd in limestones show that Cd is located to carbonates and not to detrital components and it is therefore not possible to minimize the Cd-content by selective quarrying of stone with low content of detrital material. The study of dolomite and its influence on calcination properties show that moderate amounts of dolomite has only minor influence. Xray core scanning and xray- tomography are powerful methods in studies of chemistry and structures
Planned approach and implementation
The project was led by L.Johansson (LU) and K. Fjäder (Nordkalk AB). Nordkalk AB has provided rock materials, chemical analyses, knowledge of industrial processes and product demands. KPAB performed a large scale calcination experiment of high-S limestone. Scanning electron microscopy, calcination experiments, dissolution experiments and LA-ICP-MS analyses of trace elements have been done at Department of Geology (LU). We have collaborated with COX Analytical Systems (Xray-scanning of drill cores and with Division of Solid Mechanics at Lund University (Xray-tomography)