Expanded clay aggregates, also called exclay, or lightweight expanded clay aggregates (LECA), are a beneficial material in a growing number of industries – most notably construction and horticulture, with water treatment and filtration applications likely next in line. The unique structure and physical properties of …
Biochar, a charcoal-like, carbon-based material with roots in ancient civilizations, has scientists excited over the potential it holds for restoring depleted soils, improving food security, and aiding in climate change efforts when used as a soil amendment. What is Biochar? Biochar is created through the …
Our photo this week shows a batch rotary kiln test conducted in the FEECO Innovation Center. The batch kiln is used to simulate the conditions of a continuous, commercial rotary kiln. The kiln is lined with a lightweight castable refractory and heated with a propane burner. …
Cyanidation, or the metallurgical process of extracting gold from ore with cyanide leaching agents, has long been a primary method of gold beneficiation. Widely used throughout the world, one incredible material helps to make gold recovery from a cyanide solution possible; with its ultra-porous structure, …
As the world continues to move away from fossil fuels, pyrolysis is becoming an increasingly important tool, helping to create a more circular economy by opening up opportunities in the production of alternative fuels from a variety of wastes. The rotary pyrolysis kiln is chosen …
Rotary drum tires, or riding rings, are one of the primary support components of a rotary drum, resting on trunnion wheels and allowing rotation of the unit on its base. As technology has advanced, the approach to mounting drum tires has evolved, with each change …
Activated carbon continues to attract interest as a way to produce a premium, marketable product from biomass waste. As a powerful adsorbent, the carbon-based material has been applied in everything from water treatment to gold recovery. The nascent nature of this industry, however, is leaving …
Reduction roasting is the removal of oxygen from a component of an ore, usually through the use of Carbon Monoxide (CO). The CO is typically supplied by mixing a carbonaceous material such as coke or coal with the ore, or by feeding it separately. An …
Incineration has become an essential tool in managing industrial and municipal wastes more sustainably, as long-landfilled materials such as hazardous medical wastes, petrochemicals, ammunitions, and more, have proven detrimental to the environment. While many types of incineration equipment exist, the rotary kiln, a diverse and …
This week’s photo shows a rotary kiln’s leaf seals. The set-up consists of a series of overlapping spring steel plates that are attached to the housing, and ride on the rotating shell. Rotary kilns run at a higher temperature than the ambient air, thus any …