Ash Utilization Strategy in India—A Way Forward

ABSTRACT

Ash generated from thermal power plants is an industrial by-product and considered as a one of the major pollutants in India due to the surplus amount of generation and hazardous nature. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change under supervision of government of India is already in the process of framing a policy toward 100 percent ash utilization. The chapter discusses the trends and challenges in the utilization of ash in India. It also discusses classification of ash and its standards and specification. The main aim of the chapter is to focus on research-based technologies and practices for enhancing ash utilization in order to promote sustainable infrastructure and circular economy in the country which will also lead to clear the stock of unutilized ash in India. In this chapter various research done by National Council for Cement & Building Materials, India toward ash utilization such as substitution of fine aggregate with bottom ash, concrete made with fly ash, geopolymer concrete with low calcium and high calcium systems, sintered fly ash light weight aggregate in structural concrete, controlled low strength material for backfilling and clay fired pond ash bricks has been discussed. With the advancement in technology of coal firing system, conveyance, and collection system of ash, it has acquired a status of value-added materials. However, chapter highlights further need of formulation of standards for sampling of ash and research in the areas of development of multifunctional admixtures for high performance flyash concrete and geopolymer concrete, development of design parameters for fly ash-based geopolymer concrete and sintered flyash light weight aggregate for application in reinforced and prestressed concrete.