Data for: Opaline phytoliths in Miscanthus sinensis and its cyclone ash from a biomass-combustion facility
Description
Figure A1: Fluorescence (excitation at 405 nm) observations of phytoliths in re-burned cyclone ash from Miscanthus sinensis combustion using a Zeiss LSM 510 confocal microscope. (a) Images of the variation of the fluorescence from a single phytolith (phytolith 1, see (b,c)) at various emission wavelengths. (b) Fluorescence intensity as a function of emission wavelength for the four different phytoliths, shown in (c) at a fluorescence wavelength of 495 nm. Figure A2: EDX element distribution maps of three phytoliths in a dry extract of Miscanthus sinensis. The C signal around the three phytoliths results from the carbon substrate used to mount the sample for the ESEM investigations; it is not caused by organic material from the plant. Figure A3: EDX element distribution maps of phytoliths in a sample of re-burned cyclone ash from the combustion of Miscanthus sinensis straw. The Ca map clearly shows the calcite aggregates that surround the phytoliths. The K+Cl map (a superposition of individually generated distribution maps of K and Cl) reveals the occurrence of small sylvite crystals within the calcite aggregates. Figure A4: X-ray diffraction pattern of the re-burned cyclone ash. Qtz = quartz; Cc = calcite; Syl = sylvite; Per = periclase. Observed spectrum (red line), fitted spectrum (blue solid line), difference plot (red spectrum in lower part of image) and Bragg peak positions (tick marks above difference plot) are shown. The weighted R-factor, Rwp, was calculated using the observed and calculated intensities in the powder diffraction patterns. Table A1: The ash content (in wt%) of Miscanthus sinensis straw, determined by the dry-ashing technique Table A2: Phytolith content (in wt%) of Miscanthus ash, as determined by dry extraction. Table A3: Phytolith dimensions as determined in ESEM images of Miscanthus dry extracts (in µm) Table A4: ESEM-EDXS spot analyses data summary.