Laboratory Investigation and Characterization of Some Coal Combustion Byproducts for their Effective Utilization

Abstract

Thermal power stations use pulverized coal as fuel. They produce enormous quantities of coal ash as a by-product of combustion. This calls for the development of strategies to encourage and establish technological concepts which will ensure consumption of fly ash in bulk. This paper presents a review of some of the experimental studies carried out in the laboratory. The purpose is to find out a suitable utilization avenue for a particular fly ash sample depending upon its physical, chemical, morphological and engineering properties and thus reduce the need for vast areas for disposal of fly ash which in turn causes considerable damage to the environment. Some of the experiments which are conducted are particle size analysis, specific gravity, wet density, specific surface area, moisture content, turbidity, X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) studies. Based on the results obtained from these experiments, suitable end use for the fly ash based on the characteristics of the samples is ascertained