REPLACING HYDRATED LIME BY CHARCOAL ASH IN ASPHALT CONCRETE MIX

INTRODUCTION
Background of the study

Coal-fired electric power plants consume approximately 900 million tons of coal each year in the
United States [DOE 1998]. This consumption results in the production of more than 78 million tons of
coal ash [ACAA 1998]. Between 1993 and 1997, the rise in demand for electricity caused coal
consumption to increase by an average of 2.9 percent per year [DOE 1998]. This trend is expected to
continue and will result in the increase of coal ash production. Coal ash consists of fly ash and bottom ash. Bottom ash is
the heavier ash that falls through the bottom of the furnace where it is collected in a hopper. It is a relatively coarse
material and is classified as wet or dry bottom ash depending on the type of boiler used.The lighter fly ash is carried
through the furnace with the exhaust gases and is collected by ash precipitators [Huang 1990]. Fly ash accounts for 70
to 80 percent of the coal ash produced by most electric power plants. Fly ash and bottom ash possess properties that give
them several productive uses as construction materials, yet more than 70 percent of the ash remains unused [ACAA
1998]. The majority of unused coal ash is disposed of in landfills or mined out areas of coal mines prior to their
reclamation.

Problem Statement

As the consumption of coal by power plants increases, so does the production of coal ash. Disposal of unused coal ash
is costly and places a considerable burden on the power industry. In addition, the disposing of ash in landfills
contributes to the ongoing problem of diminishing landfill space in the United States. Ash disposal also may pose an
environmental hazard.

Objectives

The objective of this paper is to study the mechanical properties of asphalt mixture using an aggregate

of bottom ash and replacing the use of hydrated lime that is used in cement and mortar. When bottom ash is
used as asphalt pavement material, it will decrease the aggregate cost and also reduces the dumping
of bottom ash in landfills

Significance of the study

Bottom ash also makes a useful construction material. The European Coal Combustion Products
Association estimates the use of bottom ash in the construction industry at 46% and the use of fly ash at
43%. Bottom ash applications include filler material for structural applications and embankments, aggregate
in road bases, sub-bases, pavement, and lightweight concrete products, as as feed stock in the production of
cement. The chemical makeup of fly and bottom ash varies significantly and is dependent on the source and
composition of the coal being burned. This can include a wide variety of toxic substances from trace
amounts to percent levels. In order to protect the environment or the quality and safety of any products it is
added to, the composition of the ash product needs to be accurately analyzed before it can be recycled or
disposed of.