Hybrid organic-inorganic films mimicking natural nacre-like composite structures were fabricated from cellulose nanofibers obtained from sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation treatment and talc platelets, using a simple vacuum-filtration method. As a pretreatment, commercial talc aggregates were individualized into well-dispersed talc platelets using a wet stirred media mill with high-shear conditions to promote the homogeneity and mechanical characteristics of hybrids. The nanofiber-talc hybrids, which had talc contents from 1 to 50 wt %, were all flexible in bending, and possessed tensile strength and Young's modulus values up to 211 ± 3 MPa and 12 ± 1 GPa, respectively, the values being remarkably higher than those reported previously for nanofibrillated cellulose-talc films. Because of the lamellar and well-organized structure of hybrids in which the talc platelets were evenly embedded, they possessed a small pore size and good oxygen barrier properties, as indicated by the preliminary results. The talc platelets decreased the moisture adsorption of highly talc-loaded hybrids, although they still exhibited hydrophilic surface characteristics in terms of contact angles.

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Traditionally fly ash is thought to be glassy, spherical particle originating from pulverized coal combustion (PCC) at temperature up to 1700 °C. However, nowadays fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology is spreading quickly around the world as it is an efficient and environmentally friendly method. FBC is also able to utilize mixtures of low-grade solid fuels (e.g., coal, lignite, biomass, and waste) that have fluctuating quality, composition, and moisture contents. However, this leads to a high variation in the produced fly ash quality, unlike PCC fly ash, and hence challenges when attempting to utilize this fly ash. In this study, the utilization of fluidized bed combustion fly ash (FBCFA) was reviewed using the Scopus database. The most promising utilization target for FBCFA from biomass combustion is as a fertilizer and soil amendment. In construction, the FBCFA from various fuels is utilized as cement replacement material, in non-cement binders, as lightweight aggregates and cast-concrete products. Other types of construction applications include mine backfilling material, soil stabilizer, and road construction material. There are also other promising applications for FBCFA utilization, such as catalysts support material and utilization in waste stabilization.

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