W artykule zbadano możliwość wykorzystania popiołów lotnych klasy C (otrzymywanych w wyniku spalania węgla brunatnego w kotle pyłowym) i F (otrzymywanych w wyniku spalania węgla kamiennego metodą konwencjonalną) jako substratów do syntezy materiału zeolitowego z grupy filipsytu. W tym celu przeprowadzono szereg syntez hydrotermalnych z wykorzystaniem reagentów takich jak wodorotlenek sodu (NaOH) oraz bromek tetrapropyloamoniowy (TPABr). W wyniku reakcji otrzymano docelowy materiał zeolitowy, zarówno z popiołu klasy C, jak i F. Otrzymane produkty syntezy, jak też popiołowe substraty reakcji, poddano charakterystyce chemicznej i mineralogicznej. Badania wykazały, że popiół lotny powstały z węgla brunatnego i kamiennego może być substratem w reakcjach syntez zeolitu, jakim jest filipsyt. Analiza porównawcza dyfraktogramów rentgenowskich produktów z obu typów popiołów wykazała, że lepszym substratem jest popiół klasy C otrzymywany w wyniku spalania węgla brunatnego w kotle pyłowym (w reakcji syntezy otrzymano lepiej wykształcone formy zeolitowe). W pracy dokonano także analizy literaturowej potencjalnych kierunków zastosowania filipsytu w inżynierii i ochronie środowiska. Na podstawie zweryfikowanych danych stwierdzono, iż dalszym kierunkiem badań będzie analiza możliwości wykorzystania otrzymanych materiałów jako potencjalnych sorbentów amoniaku.

Dolomite can be used as a source of aluminosilicate to produce geopolymers; however, this approach is limited by its low reactivity. This study analyzes the viability of producing geopolymers using dolomite/fly-ash with sodium silicate and NaOH solutions (at multiple concentrations) by determining the resultant geopolymers’ compressive strengths. The dolomite/fly-ash-based geopolymers at a NaOH concentration of ~22 M resulted in an optimum compressive strength of 46.38 MPa after being cured for 28 days, and the SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the denser surface of the geopolymer matrix. The synchrotron micro-XRF analyses confirmed that the Ca concentration exceeded that of Si and Mg, leading to the formation of calcium silicate hydrate, which strengthens the resulting geopolymers.

Assessing the level of metallurgical and foundry technology in prehistoric times requires the examination of raw material finds, including elongated ingots, which served as semi-finished products ready for further processing. It is rare to find such raw material directly at production settlements, but Wicina in western Poland is an exception. During the Hallstatt period (800-450 BC), this area, situated along the middle Oder River, benefited from its favorable location in the heart of the Central European Urnfield cultures and developed networks for raw material exchange and bronze foundry production. Numerous remnants of casting activities, such as clay casting molds, casting systems, and raw materials, have been discovered at the Wicina settlement. This article aims to provide an archaeometallurgical interpretation of raw material management and utilization by prehistoric communities during the Early Iron Age. To achieve this, a collection of 31 ingots from the defensive settlement in Wicina, along with two contemporary deposits from Bieszków and Kumiałtowice, both found within a 20 km radius of the stronghold, were studied. Investigations were conducted using a range of methods, including optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy (SE M), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SE M-EDS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED-XRF), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), AAS and ICP-OES spectrometer. The significance of ingots is examined in the context of increasing social complexity and the rising popularity of bronze products, which necessitated diversified production and a demand for raw materials with different properties and, consequently, different chemical compositions.

During excavation of the cremation cemetery of urnfield culture in Legnica at Spokojna Street (Lower Silesia, Poland), dated to 1100-700

BC, the largest - so far in Poland – a collection of casting moulds from the Bronze Age was discovered: three moulds for axes casting

made out of stone and five moulds for casting sickles, razors, spearhead and chisels, made out of clay. This archaeological find constituted

fittings of foundrymen’s graves. In order to perform the complete analysis of moulds in respect of their application in the Bronze Age

casting technology analytical methods, as well as, computer aided methods of technological processes were used. Macroscopic

investigations were performed and the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry method was used to analyse the chemical composition and metal

elements content in mould cavities. Moulds were subjected to three-dimensional scanning and due to the reverse engineering the geometry

of castings produced in these moulds were obtained.

The gathered data was used to perform design and research works by means of the MAGMA5

software. Various variants of the pouring

process and alloys solidification in these archaeological moulds were simulated. The obtained results were utilised in the interpretation of

the Bronze Age casting production in stone and clay moulds, with regard to their quality and possibility of casting defects occurrence

being the result of these moulds construction.

The reverse engineering, modelling and computer simulation allowed the analysis of moulds and castings. Investigations of casting moulds

together with their digitalisation and reconstruction of casting technology, confirm the high advancement degree of production processes

in the Bronze Age.