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Coal Byproduct Reutilization Processes

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Coal byproduct reutilization processes

Coal as a source of energy commonly utilized in electricity production plants by combustion

in furnaces. Consequently, incombustible materials are left as byproducts after the combustion

process is complete. These include; flay ash, bottom ash, flue gases and boiler slag. A large

percentage of these products is disposed in landfills commonly known as ash ponds. In a

research by Ahmedi and Kusari  (2012), the disposal require large quantities of land, the fine

particles in the waste may course air, water and soil pollution, disruption of ecological circles

and set off environmental hazards if not well managed. A number of processes to reutilize the

byproducts have been proposed and implemented in different places in the world. In this paper

we shall look at two of these reutilization processes.

1. Waste water treatment

One of the methods of reutilizing coal by products is in waste water treatment, “research

shows that using fly ash as aid of coagulant in water treatment helps in coagulation of turbid

water and settling of chemically induced flock” (Ahmedi & Kusari, 2012). Further in the

research, Ahmedi and Kusari  (2012), argue that the use of fly ash in water treatment has shown

it to be successful in the removal of color and dyes in waste water.

In this process, fly ash is sieved using a micrometer sieve, then three layers of pebbles at the

bottom, fly ash and sieved sand on top is set up. Waste water is then allowed to seep through the

layers slowly, this process ensures that fly ash is utilized as an adsorbent, membrane filter and

photo catalyst (Mushtaq et al., 2019).

The society therefore will benefit from this process to recycle waste water for in domestic

and agricultural use.

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However, the use of fly ash and bottom ash in water treatment risks the contamination of

water by heavy metals that are often present in coal and coal byproducts, which can be very

hazardous to human health (Ahmedi & Kusari, 2012).

2. Construction industry

Additionally, according to new research, fly ash can be used to enhance the strength of

concrete (Chapter 2 - Highway Applications - Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers - Recycling

- Sustainability - Pavements - Federal Highway Administration, n.d.). In this process, fly ash is

incorporated in to Portland cement during the construction process. When making concrete,

research has revealed that some of the lime present in Portland cement becomes free during the

process of hydration. Consequently with the presence of fly ash, an chemical reaction between

the latter and lime form additional cementitious properties that further enhance the properties of

the resultant concrete (Chapter 2 - Highway Applications - Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers

- Recycling - Sustainability - Pavements - Federal Highway Administration, n.d.).

This process benefits the society by increasing the durability of concrete structures and

reducing the overall cost of construction.

However, the potential downside of this is that the curing period of concrete structures

becomes longer.

Conclusion

Coal usage in energy production produces a lot of material byproducts that is otherwise disposed

but can be utilized to reduce environmental effects that come with these by products. The

reutilization processes are unlimited and more research on this will open more creative ways to

better manage these byproducts.

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References

Ahmedi, F., & Kusari, L. (2012). Coal Combustion Byproducts and Their Usage – Water Field.

South East European University Review, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.2478/v10306-012-0014-

Chapter 2 - Highway Applications - Fly Ash Facts for Highway Engineers - Recycling -

Sustainability - Pavements - Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.).

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/recycling/fach02.cfm

Mushtaq, F., Zahid, M., Bhatti, I. A., Nasir, S., & Hussain, T. (2019). Possible applications of

coal fly ash in wastewater treatment. Journal of Environmental Management, 240, 27–46.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.054