Power station fly ash - a review of value-added utilization outside of theconstruction industry

The disposal of fly ash from coal-fired power stations causes significant e conomic and environmental problems. A relatively small percentage of the ma terial finds application as an ingredient in cement and other construction products, but the vast majority of material generated each year is held in ash dams or similar dumps. This unproductive use of land and the associated long-term financial burden of maintenance has led to realization that alte rnative uses for fly ash as a value-added product beyond incorporation in c onstruction materials are needed. Utilization of fly ash in such areas as n ovel materials, waste management, recovery of metals and agriculture is rev iewed in this article with the aim of looking at new areas that will expand the positive reuse of fly ash, thereby helping to reduce the environmental and economic impacts of disposal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.