A Review of Coal Fly Ash Utilization: Environmental, Energy, and Material Assessment

Monika Kuźnia ()
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Monika Kuźnia: Department of Heat Engineering and Environment Protection, Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Krakow, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Global coal consumption is continuously increasing. It is still the primary fuel used in power plants. Despite policies in the European Union aimed at reducing coal consumption, there are countries in the world where coal use continues to rise (China and India are the largest consumers of coal). Coal combustion produces waste, 70% of which is fly ash. It consists mainly of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 . Fly ash also includes Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , MgO, K 2 O, and CaO. This article describes various methods of using fly ash. Fly ash can be used in the cement industry, as a filler in materials, in zeolite synthesis, in cenosphere separation, in agriculture, in water purification, in road construction as an asphalt filler, and in mine backfilling. An interesting method of using fly ash as a filler in the production of rigid polyurethane foam was also described. The article concerns potential uses in accordance with the principles of a Circular Economy. The environmental, energy, and material aspects are discussed.

Keywords: coal combustion products; fly ash; circular economy; filler; waste utilization; cenospheres (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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