Fly ash Utilization: Part I - Understanding Basics

Geetha Seshadri, Gunjan Suri, Pranshu Chhabra Kapoor and Rakesh Kumar Khandal, Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi.

Introduction

With the success stories of research and development work conducted on fly ash, so far, the generation of fly ash is no longer being considered as an issue of concern or fly ash as an undesirable waste product. In fact, now fly ash is being considered as a useful resource for various industrial applications.

The successful experiences of utilization of fly ash in large volumes in value-added applications in the developed world have resulted in increasing the level of utilization of fly ash to the extent that it matches well with the generation of fly ash. Moreover, the life-cycle of products based on fly ash has been well understood as well as appreciated as a result of which fly ash based products are being taken as green materials.

Inspite of all this happening elsewhere, the scenario in developing countries is quite different from that in the developed world. Till the other day, there existed a kind of resistance in accepting fly ash as a useful material for different applications in the developing countries. With the time, the only change that has happened pertains to the perception of the people who have started accepting fly ash as a useful resource material. Even though, the exploitation of the potential of fly ash for different industrial applications has yet to attain desired levels, however, the utilization of fly ash in large volumes as a valuable resource is just a question of lime.

Because of the fact that the requirement of electricity has been rising and most of it would be generated from coal, the generation of fly ash would always be rising especially in developing countries like India. The quantities of fly ash generated during 2009 has touched a figure of 110 million tonnes. The estimates for the year 2030 indicate the production to cross 10 billion tonnes. Such large volumes of fly ash need to be disposed off in an environment-friendly manner to avoid the burden on the environment and to eliminate the adverse impacts due to the stocking of fly ash in ponds, on the ecology. The utilization levels for the year 2009 have been to the extent of nearly 50% of the fly ash generated. To achieve a utilization level of almost 100% of the fly ash generated, a lot of efforts are needed especially in applications where fly ash can be consumed in large volumes. This has to be done not just for a given year but for year-after-year on a sustainable basis to dispose-off the ever increasing quantities of fly ash with time.

The experiences so far have been good and their success is worth emulating. The utilization of fly ash, so far, has largely been in applications where fly ash is used either as a replacement for the conventionally used materials or as an additive in certain applications to benefit from the synergistic or advantageous attributes of fly ash. The applications where fly ash can be used to produce highly valuable materials have yet to become a reality. There are several bottlenecks at various stages. Unless such bottlenecks are removed, the goal of converting all of the fly ash into useful and valuable materials will remain far-fetched.

The present paper touches upon some of the important aspects essential for exploitation of fly ash. Not only the areas where fly ash can become a resource material are discussed but the reasons as to why it has not been happening in several other areas are also highlighted. Further, the path forward leading to the exploitation of fly ash in high volumes and at the same time high value applications has also been suggested.
This is a premium article available exclusively for our subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, please Login
If not, subscribe now and get access to well researched articles & reports on infrastructure construction, equipment & machinery, innovations & technology, project reports, case studies, and more. All this by simply paying just ₹200/- for a month of complete portal access, or a discounted rate of ₹1000/- for a full year of access.
NBM&CW October 2012

No comments yet, Be the first one to comment on this.

×

Terms & Condition

By checking this, you agree with the following:
  1. To accept full responsibility for the comment that you submit.
  2. To use this function only for lawful purposes.
  3. Not to post defamatory, abusive, offensive, racist, sexist, threatening, vulgar, obscene, hateful or otherwise inappropriate comments, or to post comments which will constitute a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability.
  4. Not to post or make available any material which is protected by copyright, trade mark or other proprietary right without the express permission of the owner of the copyright, trade mark or any other proprietary right.
  5. To evaluate for yourself the accuracy of any opinion, advice or other content.
Thermax Acquires BuildTech to Expand its Footprint in Construction Chemicals

Thermax Acquires BuildTech to Expand its Footprint in Construction Chemicals

The recent acquisition of BuildTech by Thermax exemplifies a significant trend within the industry towards strategic expansion and enhanced capabilities in construction technologies.

Read more ...

Icrete By Amazecrete Enhances Strength & Durability of Concrete

Icrete By Amazecrete Enhances Strength & Durability of Concrete

Icrete has emerged as a new age material for Concrete Construction given its efficacy in increasing the strength and durability of concrete, bringing value additions and greater profitability to the users.

Read more ...

Cement Industry Targets Net Zero with 25% Emissions Reduction by 2030

Cement Industry Targets Net Zero with 25% Emissions Reduction by 2030

The Cement Industry is embarking on a Net Zero pathway, aiming for a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and a full decarbonization by 2050, driven by technological innovations, use of alternative raw materials, and circular economy

Read more ...

Determining Plastic Hinge Length in Precast Seismic Force-Resisting Systems

Determining Plastic Hinge Length in Precast Seismic Force-Resisting Systems

Plastic hinges form at the maximum moment region of reinforced concrete columns. A reasonable estimation of the plastic hinge length is key to successfully modeling the lateral load-drift response and conducting a proper seismic

Read more ...

Properties and Applications of Geopolymer Masonry Blocks

Properties and Applications of Geopolymer Masonry Blocks

Radhakrishna, Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, RV College of Engineering, Affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Bengaluru. Block masonry is one of the oldest methods of construction. It is composed

Read more ...

Advancing LC3 Cement Technology for Sustainable Construction in India

Advancing LC3 Cement Technology for Sustainable Construction in India

Dr S B Hegde provides a deep, research-driven analysis of LC3 cement, emphasizing its chemistry, process innovations, global applicability, and success stories, and evaluates its technical advantages, performance, cost savings

Read more ...

Supplementary Cementitious Materials Improving Sustainability of Concrete

Supplementary Cementitious Materials Improving Sustainability of Concrete

Concrete is the second most consumed material after water in the world and cement is the key ingredient in making concrete. When a material becomes as integral to the structure as concrete, it is important to analyze its environmental impacts.

Read more ...

Alite & Belite in Portland Cement: A Key to Sustainability & Strength

Alite & Belite in Portland Cement: A Key to Sustainability & Strength

Dr. S B Hegde guides construction industry stakeholders on balancing cement’s early strength with long-term durability and sustainability and advocates optimized cement formulations and supplementary materials for more resilient infrastructure

Read more ...

Amazecrete: Offering Sustainable Concrete Solutions like ICRETE

Amazecrete: Offering Sustainable Concrete Solutions like ICRETE

V.R. Kowshika, Executive Director, Amazecrete, discusses the economic and environmental benefits of eco-friendly and sustainable products like ICRETE and the positive impact on the construction industry.

Read more ...

Admixture-Cement Compatibility For Self-Compacting Concrete

Admixture-Cement Compatibility For Self-Compacting Concrete

An admixture is now an essential component in any modern concrete formula and plays a significant role in sustainable development of concrete technology. Dr. Supradip Das, Consultant – Admixture, Waterproofing, Repair & Retrofitting

Read more ...

Amazecrete's Icrete: New Age Material for Concrete Construction

Amazecrete's Icrete: New Age Material for Concrete Construction

By maximizing the durability and use of supplementary cementitious materials, Icrete has emerged as a new age material for Concrete Construction V. R. Kowshika Executive Director Amazecrete

Read more ...

Nanospan’s Spanocrete® Reduces Cement & Curing Time in Fly Ash Bricks

Nanospan’s Spanocrete® Reduces Cement & Curing Time in Fly Ash Bricks

Hyderabad-based Ecotec Industries is a leading manufacturer of fly ash bricks and cement concrete blocks in South India under the trademark NUBRIK. Their products are known for their consistency and quality. Ecotec was earlier owned

Read more ...

Ready-Mix Concrete: Advancing Sustainable Construction

Ready-Mix Concrete: Advancing Sustainable Construction

A coordinated approach by the government, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies is needed to overcome challenges, implement necessary changes, and propel the RMC sector towards further growth such that RMC continues to play a vital

Read more ...

Advancements & Opportunities in Photocatalytic Concrete Technology

Advancements & Opportunities in Photocatalytic Concrete Technology

Research on photocatalytic concrete technology has spanned multiple decades and involved contributions from various countries worldwide. This review provides a concise overview of key findings and advancements in this field

Read more ...

Self-Compacting Concrete

Self-Compacting Concrete

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete which can be placed and consolidated under its own weight without any vibratory effort due to its excellent deformability, which, at the same time, is cohesive enough to be handled

Read more ...

Nanospan's Spanocrete® Additive for Waterproofing & Leak-Free Concrete

Nanospan's Spanocrete® Additive for Waterproofing & Leak-Free Concrete

Nanospan's Spanocrete Additive for Waterproofing & Leak-Free Concrete has proven its mettle in the first massive Lift Irrigation project taken up by the Government of Telangana to irrigate one million acres in the State.

Read more ...

Accelerated Building & Bridge Construction with UHPC

Accelerated Building & Bridge Construction with UHPC

UHPC, which stands for Ultra High-Performance Concrete, is a testament to the ever-evolving panorama of construction materials, promising unparalleled strength, durability, and versatility; in fact, the word concrete itself is a misnomer

Read more ...

Innovative Approaches Driving Sustainable Concrete Solutions

Innovative Approaches Driving Sustainable Concrete Solutions

This paper explores the evolving landscape of sustainable concrete construction, focusing on emerging trends, innovative technologies, and materials poised to reshape the industry. Highlighted areas include the potential of green concrete

Read more ...

GGBS: Partial Replacement Of Cement For Developing Low Carbon Concrete

GGBS: Partial Replacement Of Cement For Developing Low Carbon Concrete

Dr. L R Manjunatha, Vice President, and Ajay Mandhaniya, Concrete Technologist, JSW Cement Limited, present a Case Study on using GGBS as partial replacements of cement for developing Low Carbon Concretes (LCC) for a new Education University

Read more ...

To get latest updates on whatsapp, Save +91 93545 87773 and send us a 'Saved' message
Click Here to Subscribe to Our eNewsletter.