ENVIS Newsletter State Environment Related Issues

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTS, ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA

Vol.2 No. 6 January 2007

Utility bonanza from dust

F ly ash is one of the numerous
substances that cause air, water and
soil pollution, disrupt
ecological cycles and set off
environmental dangers. Both in disposal, as
well as in utilization, utmost care has to be
taken, to safeguard the interest of
human life, wild life, and
environmental hazards.

The combustion of powdered coal

FLY ASH environment.

in thermal power plants produces fly ash. Is fly ash hazardous?

The high temperature of burning coal turns
the clay minerals present in the coal powder
into fused fine particles The physical, geotechnical and chemical
mainly comprising parameters to characterize fly ash are the same as those
aluminium silicate. Fly for natural soils, e.g., specific gravity, grain size,
ash produced thus Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics,
possesses both ceramic permeability coefficient, shear strength parameters and
and pozzolanic consolidation parameters. The properties of ash are a
properties. function of several variables such as coal source, degree
of pulverization, design of boiler unit, loading and firing
When pulverised coal is conditions, handling and storage methods. A change in
burnt to generate heat, the any of the above factors can result in detectable changes
residue contains 80 per in the properties of the ash produced. The procedures for
cent fly ash and 20 per determination of these parameters are also similar to
cent bottom ash. The ash those for soils.
is carried away by flue gas collected at economiser, air
pre-heater and ESP hoppers. Clinker type ash collected in
the water-impounded hopper below the boilers is called Engineering properties of Fly Ash
bottom ash. Parameter
Specific gravity 1.90-2.55
The World Bank has cautioned India that by 2015, Plasticity Non Plastic
disposal of coal ash would require 1000 square Proctor compaction - Maximum
kilometres or one square metre of land per person. Since dry density (gm/cc) 0.90-1.60
coal currently accounts for 70 per cent of power
Optimum moisture content (%) 38.0-18.0
production in the country, the Bank has highlighted the
need for new and innovative methods for reducing Angle of internal friction ( O) 300-40 0
2
impacts on the environment. Cohesion (kg/cm ) Negligible
Compression index 0.05-0.4
The process of coal combustion results in fly ash. The Permeability (CM/SEC) 105-10 3
problem with fly ash lies in the fact that not only does its
Particle size distribution
disposal require large quantities of land, water, and
energy, its fine particles, if not managed well, by virtue of Clay size fraction (%) 1-10
their weightlessness, can become airborne. Currently, 90 Silt size fraction (%) 8-85
million tonnes of fly ash is being generated annually in Sand size fraction (%) 7-90
India, with 65 000 acres of land being occupied by ash Gravel size fraction (%) 0-10
ponds. Such a huge quantity does pose challenging Coefficient of uniformity 3.1-10.7
problems, in the form of land usage, health hazards, and

Nearly 73% of India's total installed power generation capacity is thermal, 90% of it coal-based
 Shri Nilaya Mitash, I.A.S.,
Managing Director 15 March 2007
Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing
Corporation Ltd.,
Cauvery Bhavan
Bangalore.
Fly ash produced during the burning of powdered coal in thermal power plants is a hazardous waste.
However, its physical and chemical properties make it an ideal raw material for producing high quality and
cost-effective bricks, interlocking pavers, kerbstones and mosaic tiles.
Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Ltd. has done pioneering work in using fly ash products in
the projects implemented by it. Fly ash-based building components like blocks, bricks, door and window
frames are extensively used in the construction of houses in Raichur, Bellary, Uttara Kannada and Shimoga
Districts. Raichur Nirmiti Kendra received an award from HUDCO for use of industrial waste as building
material.
The effort of ENVIS Centre, Karnataka, to popularize the use of fly ash products is laudable.

(Nilaya Mitash)

How fly ash is hazardous

The conventional method used to dispose of both fly ash
Fly ash is a very fine powder and tends to travel far in the and bottom ash is to convert them into slurry for
air. When not properly disposed, it is known to pollute air impounding in ash ponds around the thermal plants. This
and water, and causes respiratory problems when inhaled. method entails long-term problems.
When it settles on leaves and crops in fields around the
power plant, it lowers the yield. The severe problems that arise from such dumping are:

How dumping of fly ash leads to pollution of air, land and water
Air
Wind
Atmospheric
transport
fall-out

Atmospheric Ash mound/ Wind

fall-out pond transport

Surface run-off

Surface water Surface run-off Surface soil

Infiltration Leaching

Ground water aquifer Dispersion and Diffusion Deep soil

2 India would require 1000 sq Km / 1 Sq m per person for disposal of coal ash by 2015.
 when the lagoons are full, four
basic options are available:
† constructing new lagoons
using conventional
construction material,
† hauling of fly ash from the
existing lagoons to another
disposal site,
† raising the existing dyke using
conventional constructional
material, and
† raising the dyke using fly ash
excavated from the lagoon
Raichur Thermal Power Station, Raichur (’ash dyke’).

® The construction of ash ponds requires vast tracts of The option of raising the existing dyke is very cost
land. This depletes land available for agriculture effective because any fly ash used for constructing dyke
over a period of time. would, in addition to saving the earth filling cost, enhance
® When one ash pond fills up, another has to be built, disposal capacity of the lagoon.
at great cost and further loss of agricultural land An important aspect of design of ash dykes is the internal
® Huge quantities of water are required to convert ash drainage system. The seepage discharge from internal
into slurry. surfaces must be controlled with filters that permit water
to escape freely and also to hold particles in place and the
During rains, numerous salts and metallic content in the piezometric surface on the downstream of the dyke. The
slurry can leach down to the groundwater and internal drainage system consists of construction of rock
contaminate it. toe, 0.5m thick sand blanket and sand chimney. After
completion of the final section including earth cover the
Disposal problem turfing is developed from sod on the downstream slope.
The Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS), one of Fly Ash Mission:
Karnataka's major power plants, is situated at The Government of India, through the Department of
Shakthinagar near Devasugur village in Raichur District. Science and Technology, has initiated the Fly Ash
Owned by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited Mission, under TIFAC. The mission propagates various
(KPCL), RTPS consists of seven units, each capable of developments in the area of fly ash utilization carried out
generating 210 MW of power. Its total power generation by the R & D institutes in India. Besides, the political will
at optimum capacity is 1470 MW per day. RTPS is the to encourage the use of fly ash has risen perceptibly.
power-generating hub of Karnataka and meets 75 per cent
of the state's power demand. The Fly Ash Mission was commissioned in 1994 with the
Department of Science & Technology (DST) as the nodal
India has about 70 thermal power plants and 70 per cent of agency and Technology Information and Assessment
them burn coal to generate power. Various Indian Council (TIFAC) as the implementing agency, in view of
collieries supply the coal, which is known to have a very the overall concern for the environment and the need for
high ash content of almost 40 to 45 per cent. the safe disposal and effective utilization of fly ash.
India's thermal power plants produce an estimated 100 Technology Project in Mission Mode (TPMM)
million tonnes of fly ash per annum. Of this, RTPS alone
generates about 1.5 million tonnes at 4,000 tonnes daily. The Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF), Ministry
Out of this, 80 per cent is fly ash and 20 per cent bottom of Power, thermal power stations, R&D institutions and
ash. This ash needs to be disposed of every day. industry together have launched a Technology Project in
Mission Mode (TPMM). Their focus is on the
Primarily, the fly ash is disposed of using either dry or wet demonstration of coal ash related technologies for
disposal scheme. In dry disposal, the fly ash is transported infusing confidence and thus ensuring large-scale
by truck, chute or conveyor at the site and disposed of by adoption. The industry, R&D institutions and academia
constructing a dry embankment (dyke). In wet disposal, have obtained encouraging results from several projects
the fly ash is transported as slurry through pipe and they have taken up. Some of these projects have been
disposed of in impoundment called "ash pond". Most of completed, multiplier effects have started and other
the power plants in India use wet disposal system, and projects are heading towards meaningful completion. A

Approximate 100 million tonnes of fly ash is generated in India’s thermal power plant per annum 3
 construction material like blended cement, fly ash
bricks, mosaic tiles and hollow blocks. It also has
other, high volume applications and can be used for
paving roads, building embankments, and mine fills.

Fly ash products have several advantages over

conventional products. The use of cement in the
manufacture of construction products can be reduced
by substitution with fly ash. While the use of cement
cannot be completely avoided, for certain products
like tiles, the substitution can go up to 50 per cent.
These products are known to be stronger and more
cost-effective because of substantial savings on raw
material.

Fly ash products are also environment-friendly. A case

in point is fly ash bricks. The manufacture of
Filling fly ash into trucks conventional clay bricks involves the consumption of
large amounts of clay. This depletes topsoil and
judicious mix of thrust areas has been taken up for degradation of agricultural land. Fly ash bricks do not
concerted efforts. These include fly ash characterization; require clay and serve two purposes; preservation of
hydraulic structures; handling and transportation; topsoil and constructive utilization of fly ash.
agriculture related studies and application; ash ponds and
dams, reclamation of ash ponds for human settlement, Agricultural uses of fly ash
roads and embankments, underground mine fills and Research on agricultural uses of fly ash has been going on
related research projects. in universities and research institutes (see box) across the
country for several years.
Utilization is a viable alternative to dumping
The same fly ash that causes harm when it settles on
Several factors have impeded fly ash utilization in India, leaves, can prove beneficial when applied scientifically
while it is being extensively used globally. Coal-based to agricultural fields. It can be a soil modifier and enhance
thermal power stations have been operational for more its moisture retaining capacity and fertility. It improves
than 50 years but the concept of developing environment- the plant's water and nutrient uptake, helps in the
friendly solutions for fly ash utilization is only about 15 development of
years old. Overall fly ash utilization in India stands at a roots and soil-
fairly low level of about 15 per cent of the quantity binding, stores
generated. Various possibilities for its use are under carbohydrates
research. Among numerous factors that account for the and oils for use
low level of utilization, the chief factors are: when needed,
protects the
E Poor understanding of the chemistry of fly ash and its plants from soil-
derivatives for proper end applications borne diseases,
E Absence of standards and specifications for fly ash and detoxifies
products contaminated
E Lack of reliable quality assurance for fly ash products soils.
E Poor public awareness about the products and their
performance Yields are also
E Non-availability of dry fly ash collection facilities known to increase, as experiments on groundnut,
E Easy availability of land with top soil at cheap rates sunflower, linseed and other oilseeds have shown.
for manufacturing conventional bricks
E Lack of proper coordination between thermal plants Fly ash as fill material
and ash users. Large scale use of ash as a fill material can be applied
where
Fly ash utilization in the country is gaining momentum
owing to the stringent regulations that the MoEF has ö Fly ash replaces another material and is therefore in
direct competition with that material.
stipulated, as also to increased awareness about the
benefits of using fly ash for various products. ö Fly ash itself is used by the power generating
Fly ash from coal-fired thermal power stations is an company producing the fly ash to improve the
excellent potential raw material for the manufacture of economics of the overall disposal of surplus fly ash.
4 Full utilisation of generated fly ash in India, will provide employment potential for 3000 people.
 Ä Higher ultimate strength
Conversion of fly ash into wealth generator Ä Increased durability
Ä Improved workability
(Excerpt from President A P J Abdul Kalam's Ä Reduced bleeding
address to the nation on the eve of the country's Ä Increased resistance to
56th Republic Day): sulfate attack
Ä Increased resistance to
“As you are aware, the use of coal for power alkali-silica reactivity
generation results in an increased quantum of fly Ä Reduced shrinkage.
ash production, which has reached about 100
million tonnes per year. All out efforts are needed Fly ash utilization, especially in
to utilize this fly ash not only from environmental concrete, has significant
considerations, but also to avoid land usage for fly ash dumping. Though there benefits including: (1)
has been a steady progress in fly ash utilization from 1990, we have a long way increasing the life of concrete
to go to reach the target of 100 per cent fly ash utilization. It is reported that the roads and structures by
agricultural increase of grains is around 15 per cent, green vegetables 35 per improving concrete durability,
cent and root vegetables 50 per cent, when fly ash is mixed with soil. Toxicity (2) net reduction in energy use
tests have proved that there is no toxic element due to fly ash. But it has higher and greenhouse gas and other
nutrients due to increased availability of iron and calcium. Fly ash can become a adverse air emissions when fly
wealth generator by making use of it for producing ‘green building’ materials, ash is used to replace or
roads, agriculture etc. Full utilization of the generating stock will provide displace manufactured cement,
employment potential for three hundred thousand people and result in a (3) reduction in amount of coal
business volume of over Rs.4,000 crore.” combustion products that must

ö Fly ash disposal is combined with the rehabilitation

and reclamation of land areas desecrated by other Fly ash road embarkment
operations.
Fills can be constructed as structural fills where the fly
ash is placed in thin lifts and compacted. Structural fly ash
fills are relatively incompressible and are suitable for the
support of buildings and other structures. Non-structural
fly ash fill can be used for the development of parks,
parking lots, playgrounds and other similar lightly loaded
facilities. One of the most significant characteristics of
Typical cross section of fly ash road
fly ash in its use as a fill material is its strength. Well- embarkment
compacted fly ash has strength comparable to or greater
than soils normally used in earth fill operations. In
addition, fly ash possesses self-hardening properties
which can result in the development of shear strengths.
The addition of illite or cement can induce hardening in
bituminous fly ash which may not self-harden alone.
Significant increases in shear strength can be realized in
relatively short periods of time and it can be very useful in
the design of embankments.
Typical cross section of flexible pavement
- using fly ash
Fly ash in portland cement concrete

Fly ash can be used in portland cement concrete to

enhance the performance of the concrete. Portland
cement is manufactured with calcium oxide (CaO), some
of which is released in a free state during hydration. As
much as 20 pounds of free lime is released during
hydration of 100 pounds of cement. This liberated lime
forms the necessary ingredient for reaction with fly ash
silicates to form strong and durable cementing Typical cross section of regid pavement
compounds, thus improves many of the properties of the
- using fly ash
concrete. Some of the resulting benefits are:
Full utilisation of fly ash in India, will result in a business volume of over Rs. 4,000 crore. 5
be disposed in landfills, and (4) conservation of other produce that would be grown on the top soil which
natural resources and materials. Typically, 15 to 30 per otherwise would have been used for embankment
cent of the portland cement is replaced with fly ash. construction.
² Reduces the demand of land for disposal/deposition
Fly ash for roads of fly ash that otherwise would not have been used
for construction of embankment.
Fly ash can be used for construction of road and ² Controls the source of pollution.
embankment. This utilization has many advantages over
conventional methods. Manufacturing process of a typical fly ash product
² Saves top soil which otherwise is conventionally
used Mosaic tile manufacture involves preparing the mix for
² Avoids creation of low lying areas (by excavation of two layers: the wearing layer and the base layer. The
soil to be used for construction of embankments) wearing layer consists of a plastic mix of mosaic chips,
² Avoids recurring expenditure on excavation of soil cement, and fly ash and dolomite powder. The base layer
from one place for construction and filling up of low consists of a semi-dry mix of fly ash, cement and quarry
lying areas thus created. dust. The tiles are pressed in the tile-making machine and
² Does not deprive the nation of the agricultural air-dried for 12 hours or more. They then undergo curing

CASHUTEC and INEP

o ne small step in addressing this issue. Special thanks to the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme
(INEP) for setting up the Centre for Ash Utilization Technologies and Environment Conservation
(CASHUTEC) at the Raichur Thermal Power Station and thereby combating the fly ash hazard.

The establishment of CASHUTEC at the Raichur power station is one of the several projects that INEP has
initiated in Karnataka. Through its projects, it aims to address air, water and soil pollution and promote
sustainable solutions. All INEP projects are pilot in nature and contribute to sustainable management of natural
resources.
.

The project at RTPS had the following objectives :

† Establishing a self-sustaining fly ash utilization demonstration centre
† Functioning as a nodal centre for development, demonstration, training and transfer of technologies for fly
ash utilization in India
† Bringing increased awareness among entrepreneurs and various end users about the benefits of using fly
ash products
† Reducing potential threats of air and water pollution
† Ensuring the ecological and environmental stability of areas surrounding RTPS
† Reducing pressure on land requirements for fly ash dumping.
Financial Outlay of the Project
Phase one Objectives of CASHUTEC
Total cost Rs.580.00 lakhs CASHUTEC itself was established with the broad objectives of:
INEP assistance Rs.225.00 lakhs † Conducting R & D programmes on uses of fly ash
KPCL Rs.355.00 lakhs † Demonstrating manufacture of fly ash building products
contribution † Demonstrating high volume uses of fly ash in cement, concrete,
Duration Two years agriculture and building of roads
Phase two † Generating increased awareness on the benefits of using coal ash
Total cost Rs.26.00 lakhs products among entrepreneurs and various end-users from four
of Karnataka's northern districts, Raichur, Bellary, Gulbarga
INEP assistance Rs.19.00 lakhs and Dharwad
CASHUTEC Rs.7.00 lakhs † Enabling semi-commercial production of bricks, blocks, pavers
contribution and mosaic tiles for self-sustenance of the centre
Duration 18 months † Developing a strong brand for products manufactured at the
centre.

6 Orissa Government has banned the use of soil for brick manufacturing upto 70 km of a thermal power station
 Te chno e conomic analys is and comparative s tudy of
fly as h products manufacture d at CASHUTEC
Fly as h Product Characte ris tics CASHUTEC Conve ntial
Finish Excellent Satisfactory
Brick (9 x 4.25 x 3) inches Compressive strength 65 - 100 kg/cm2 50 kg/cm2
Water absorption 10 - 12% 15 - 20%
Finish Excellent Satisfactory
Block (16 x 8 x 8) inches Compressive strength 50 kg/cm2 35 kg/cm2
Water absorption 10 - 12% 13 - 15%
Finish Excellent Good
Interlocking paver Compressive strength 170 - 280 kg/cm2 150 - 200 kg/cm2
Water absorption 10 - 12% 0.15
Finish Excellent Good
Kerbstone Compressive strength 215 kg/cm2 150 kg/cm2
Water absorption 8 - 10%
Finish Excellent Good
Transverse Strength 15 kg/cm2 30 kg/cm2
Mosaic tile
Water absorption 3 - 4% 0.1
Abrasion resistance 1.75 mm 3.5 mm
Fly ash products manufactured at CASHUTEC, Raichur in water tanks for 15 days. The tiles are then
polished and stacked for supply.

While the procedure may be similar to the

conventional method, the substitution of cement
with fly ash by up to 30 per cent serves as value
addition. Fly ash is used in both layers of a mosaic
tile. Several benefits accrue from this. Fly ash turns
from a problem ridden byproduct into a component
Fly ash blocks Fal-G blocks of a utility product comparable to conventional
products in strength and aesthetics. Fly ash tiles,
for example, can be used for heavy-duty floors too.
The table below suggests that the properties of fly
ash mosaic tiles are far superior to those of
conventional tiles.

FAL-G (fly ash-lime-gypsum)

Fal-G bricks and blocks are manufactured without
using thermal energy, in contrast to the sintering
Mosaic tiles Interlocking pavers involved in the production of clay bricks.

Evaluation results of fly ash mosaic tiles How do these bricks get strength, if they are not
Fly ash baked?
Properties mosaic IS 1237/CPWD specs Fal-G bricks are made of a mixture of fly ash-lime-
tiles gypsum or fly ash-cement-gypsum. In either
Wet transverse 4.5 Not less than 3.0 N/sq. mm combination, Fal-G is a hydraulic cement, which
strength (N/sq. mm) when full size tiles are tested means it sets and hardens in the presence of
Water obsorption(%) 3.3 Not to exceed 10% when full moisture, on the lines of ordinary portland cement,
size tiles are tested gaining strength progressively over ageing. Nearly
Abrasion resistance 1.75 Not to exceed 3.5 mm for 200 tonnes of coal is used to sinter one million clay
(mm) general purpose. Not to exceed bricks, a process that generates over 350 tonnes of
2.0 mm for heavy duty tiles. carbon dioxide (CO2). The production process of

World Bank has offered to buy 800,000 tonnes of CO2 reductions from utilisation of Fly ash. 7
Fal-G bricks eliminates harmful emissions of this
scale. This would also be the amount of carbon
credit earned

Frequently Asked Questions

What is fly ash?
Fly ash is a fused residue of clay minerals present
in coal. The high temperature generated when
coal burns in thermal power plants, transforms the
clay minerals in coal powder into a variety of
fused fine particles of mainly aluminium silicate
composition.

Is fly ash harmful? Seetha Subbaraju memorial hall in Raichur

Fly ash is a very fine powder and tends to travel in constructed using fly ash products
the air. When not properly disposed of, it pollutes
air and water, and causes respiratory problems
when inhaled. When it settles on leaves and crops in Is it possible to set up industries to manufacture
agriculture fields around the power plant, it lowers the p ro d u c t s s i m i l a r t o t h o s e p ro d u c e d b y
yield. CASHUTEC?
Yes, CASHUTEC provides complete technical and
Where and how can fly ash be sourced? commercial consultancy for prospective entrepreneurs
Fly ash can be sourced free of cost from RTPS, Raichur who wish to set up industries for the manufacture of fly
in Karnataka . ash products.

Which is the nodal agency for all fly ash related Is it possible to procure products manufactured at
queries? CASHUTEC?
CASHUTEC at Shaktinagar, Raichur is the nodal Yes, it is possible to order and procure products from
agency for all queries related to fly ash utilization. This CASHUTEC, or through the GRASIM Industries
includes technical know-how, queries about dealer network.
technology, machinery, manufacture and usage.
What makes fly ash useful? Source:
Fly ash is most commonly used as a pozzolan in PCC
applications. Pozzolans are siliceous or siliceous and [1]Using fly ash Extracting value from waste
aluminous material, which in a finely divided form and Published by INEP.
in the presence of water, react with calcium hydroxide at [2] Extract from paper 'Technology: Fly ash Disposal
ordinary temperatures to produce cementitious and Utilization: The Indian Scenario' by Rajiv
compounds. Sinha, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT
What are Carbon credits? Kanpur
Carbon credits are certificates awarded to countries that [3] Excerpt from Kiln Economics, Down to Earth July
are successful in reducing the emissions that cause 15, 2005
global warming. For trading purposes, one credit is [4] Wikipedia.org
considered equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide [5] www.tifac.org.in
emission reduced. Such a credit can be sold in the
international market at a prevailing market rate. The ENVIS Team:
trading can take place in open market. Developed
countries that have exceeded the levels can either cut Chakravarthi Mohan K.A.S., Co-ordinator, ENVIS
down emissions, or borrow or buy carbon credits from Centre,
developing countries. However there are two exchanges Vijay Bhat, Programme Manager, Indo Norwegian
for Carbon credit viz Chicago Climate Exchange and Environment Programme,
the European Climate Exchange. K.N. Koushik, IT Assistant.

ENVIS Centre - Karnataka

Department of Forests, Ecology & Environment, Government of Karnataka
O/o Indo Norwegian Environment Programme, 2nd floor, Parisara Bhavan ,
No 49, Church Street, Bangalore - 560 001. Karnataka
Ph: 080-2559 1515 email: [email protected] URL: http://www.parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in