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Cathode ray tube (CRT) panel glass is processed into glass foams by using carbon and Mn 3 O 4 as foaming agents. We investigate the foaming ability and foaming mechanism of the mixture by varying the composition and the temperature. Carbon load of 5 wt% inhibits the sintering of the glass powder, while 2 wt% carbon promotes the coalescence of pores during foaming. Carbon load of ≤0.4 wt% is suitable for achieving low density foams (0.15–0.23 g cm-3) with closed pores (75–100%). Foaming is initiated by the reaction between carbon and Mn 3 O 4 and this is the main source of melt expansion. Reduction of cations in the glass melt, including Mn3+ dissolved from Mn 3 O 4 , makes an important contribution to the melt foaming at >800 °C. The main gaseous product is CO 2 (67–95 vol%). CO appears above 800 °C and the concentration increases with temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of foaming glass is very dependent on the chemical composition of the glass. In this study we used a foaming-agent/oxidizing-agent couple and a crystallization inhibitor to foam cullets of flat, container and CRT-panel glass. Foamed glass with a density of 110–120 kg m –3 , a thermal conductivity of 50–52 mW m –1 K –1 and a homogeneous pore structure was obtained from a mixture of panel glass, 0.33 wt% carbon and 4.45 wt% Fe 2 O 3 . We also showed that it is possible to fabricate foamed glass with the same density or pore structure as mentioned above by adding up to 50 wt% container cullet or 70 wt% flat glass to the mixture. In the foamed samples with a low content of panel glass, crystals form, resulting in an increased open porosity, density and inhomogeneous pore structure. The crystallization can, however, be inhibited by adding calcium phosphate, so enabling the preparation of high-quality foamed glass from flat glass or flat/container-glass mixture. The pore gas is predominantly CO 2 and the pressure inside the pores is 0.36–0.47 bar. The reduced effect of the composition on the foaming process suggests that there is a great potential for stabilizing the production of foamed glass and ensuring the product's quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oxidation of atmospheric methane by soil methanotrophs is a microbial process highly susceptible to physical and chemical disturbances. In this study, atmospheric methane oxidation activity in soil samples from beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) forest stands decreased significantly after physical disturbance and/or increased exposure to ambient air. This activity loss was oxygen dependent, but independent of the presence of atmospheric methane. However, methanotrophic activity in forest soil was stabilized by amendment with various sorbents including activated charcoal, aminopropylsilane, and gamma aluminum oxide (γ-Al2O3). γ-AlO3 at a concentration >1% (g g−1) was found to stabilize and sometimes stimulate oxidation of atmospheric methane in soil from both beech and spruce forest stands. γ-Al2O3 amendment also stimulated atmospheric methane oxidation in advective flow-based soil biofilters, and the filter efficiency was found to increase with time. In both soil samples and soil biofilters, elevated oxidation of atmospheric methane was sustained for >100 days. γ-Al2O3 likely immobilized potentially inhibitory soil constituents including inorganic nitrogen and soil organics. The results of the study indicated that: 1) decreases in atmospheric methane oxidation activity in topsoil after soil homogenization and/or increased air exposure was likely related to increased bioavailability of inhibitory substances; 2) indigenous inhibitory compounds are present in topsoil in both beech and spruce forest soil; and 3) oxidation of atmospheric methane in soil can be restored and sometimes stimulated by immobilizing inhibitory compounds using γ-Al2O3 as sorbent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Development of low-density open- and closed-porous foamed glasses. • Homogeneous pore structure with >90% of open or closed pores. • Open porosity achieved by partial crystallization of the glass. • Low thermal conductivity (37.5–65.6 mW m−1 K−1) measured using heat-flow meter. • Analysis of the difference in the thermal conductivity. Future developments in foamed glass should focus on improving the thermal insulation properties, controlling the foamed structure and the type of porosity. In this study, we report on the synthesis and properties of foamed glasses with open-porous and closed-porous structures prepared from waste cathode-ray-tube (CRT) panel and soda-lime-silica glasses with the addition of carbon black, and manganese or iron oxides. The samples exhibit a homogeneous structure with an average pore size in the range 0.5–1.35 mm and open porosity above 91% or closed porosity above 92%. The open porosity was obtained by partial crystallization of the glass during the foaming process. The thermal conductivity, measured using a heat flow meter at 10 °C, is 57.2–65.6 mW m−1 K−1 at 116–143 kg m−3 for the open-porous samples and 37.5–56.2 mW m−1 K−1 at 107–245 kg m−3 for the closed-porous samples. The conduction in the solid phase contributes the major part to the effective thermal conductivity (52–72%). The conduction in the gaseous and solid phases, respectively, is higher in the open-porous foamed glass due to the different gas composition (air) and the different solid composition (glass composition and crystalline content). The developed foamed glasses also have high mechanical strength, making them suitable for load-bearing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]