Ceramsite from Sludge and Seashells for Heavy Metal Adsorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing ceramsite using seashell powder are either costly, have limited wastewater treatment effectiveness, or lack sufficient strength and bio-immobilization efficiency, while discarded seashells contribute to environmental pollution.

Innovation Solution

A ceramsite is produced using a mixture of river/lake/sea sludge and seashell powder, with specific proportions of kaolin, peat ash, siliceous shale, furnace slag, fly ash, zeolite, and peat, which are pulverized, mixed, granulated, and calcined to create a material with excellent adsorption performance and sewage treatment capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If seashell powder is used as raw material for ceramsite production, then environmental pollution from discarded shells is reduced, but the production cost increases and treatment effectiveness on heavy metal wastewater is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental pollution from discarded shellsVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness on heavy metal wastewater
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines seashell powder with multiple auxiliary materials including clay, peat ash, siliceous shale, furnace slag, fly ash, zeolite, and peat to create a composite ceramsite material. This composite approach enhances the treatment effectiveness for heavy metal wastewater while maintaining the environmental benefit of utilizing discarded shells. The synergistic combination of materials provides both structural integrity and enhanced adsorption capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the proportion of seashell powder within the range of 15-50 parts by weight and controls the water content of sludge at 45-60%. These parameter optimizations ensure that the ceramsite achieves both cost-effectiveness and reliable treatment performance for heavy metal removal while utilizing discarded shell resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If sludge is used as raw material for ceramsite production, then wastewater treatment capability is improved, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewastewater treatment capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the water content parameter of sludge to 45-60% and controls the proportion of sludge at 10-30 parts by weight. These parameter optimizations balance the wastewater treatment capability with production cost considerations, ensuring that the ceramsite is both effective and cost-effective to produce.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system that combines sludge with various auxiliary materials (clay, peat ash, siliceous shale, furnace slag, fly ash, zeolite, peat) to enhance wastewater treatment capability while controlling production costs through optimized material proportions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If high temperature sintering is used to produce ceramsite, then the strength and bio-immobilization efficiency are improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength and bio-immobilization efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite material formulation containing multiple auxiliary materials that facilitate sintering at optimized temperatures. The combination of clay, peat ash, siliceous shale, furnace slag, fly ash, zeolite, and peat creates a material system that achieves sufficient strength and bio-immobilization efficiency at lower energy costs compared to traditional high-temperature sintering of single-material systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The resulting ceramsite effectively adsorbs heavy metals and harmful substances, reducing pollution, and can be used as a building material, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for sewage treatment and waste management.

Implementation Method 1

The ceramsite has good sewage treatment effect, and is especially suitable for adsorption of heavy metal substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The ceramsite is achieved by granulating and sintering the above raw materials at a high temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCalcination: Heat Treatment

Implementation Method 3

pulverized, mixed, granulated, and calcined to create a material with excellent adsorption performance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical pulverization: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS10737238B2Ceramsite produced by using river/lake/sea sludge and seashell powder as raw materials and preparation method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.08.11 QINGDAO YI ECO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A ceramsite produced by using a river/lake/sea sludge and seashell powder as raw materials and a preparation method thereof are provided. The ceramsite is made of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 15-50 parts of shell powder, 5-15 parts of kaolin, 1-5 parts of peat ash, 15-30 parts of siliceous shale, 15-40 parts of furnace slag, 10-20 parts of fly ash, 15-40 parts of zeolite, 10-30 parts of river/lake/sea sludge, and 10-25 parts of peat. The shell powder is pulverized to a particle size of 60-200 mesh in fineness. A content of silica in the siliceous shale is 87.0%-89.5%. The preparation method of the ceramsite includes the following steps: taking raw materials, pulverizing, stirring, granulating, calcining, and naturally cooling, so as to obtain the ceramsite.