Coal ash, a byproduct of coal burning, is produced by power plants worldwide. Components can be reused in products such as concrete, but the rest must be stored to prevent pollution. Coal ash contains radioactive isotopes and toxins that can be dangerous if released into the environment. Disposal is a serious environmental problem, with some nations developing programs to manage combustion byproducts.
Coal ash is a byproduct of coal burning, created when coal is burned to generate power. Coal-fired power plants are the major producers of coal ash worldwide. In some regions, components of this byproduct can be reused in a variety of products, including concrete, while the rest must be isolated and stored to prevent pollution. Failure to contain the ash can lead to catastrophic problems; a coal ash spill in Tennessee in 2008 caused more than $1 billion United States Dollars (USD) in damages.
The components of the ash vary, depending on the original source of the charcoal. The main ingredient is minerals that cannot be burned, including an assortment of radioactive isotopes. Bottom ash, found at the bottom of boilers, is a thick, coarse assortment of minerals. Fly ash is much finer, made up of fine particles that have bonded together. Boiler slag is another form of coal ash. In facilities where filters and scrubbers are present, a product known as flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is also generated and must be handled with care.
When the ashes are removed from a power generation plant, they are traditionally stored, often in a landfill. Some of the ash may be sold for other uses, with varying usage rates, depending on the component. Fly ash, for example, can be very beneficial, and up to 75% of a power plant’s fly ash can be reused in concrete and other products.
Environmental studies have shown that coal ash can be quite dangerous. In some cases it is highly radioactive, with poor environmental controls that may not prevent contamination entirely. Unlike a nuclear plant, which is closely monitored and must follow a variety of laws to limit radiation exposure, a coal-fired power plant can release radioactive material into its surroundings and handle its ash without safety measures comparable to those used to control nuclear waste. Ash also contains dioxins and other toxins that can be dangerous if released into the environment.
Coal ash disposal is a serious environmental problem in some regions of the world. The problem has been inadvertently complicated by environmental laws that mandate increased trapping of pollutants; the collection of pollutants in the chimneys of power plants prevents their release into the environment, but generates more ash which must be suitably disposed of. Some nations have initiated government programs to monitor coal-fired power plants and develop recommendations for managing combustion byproducts to keep their surroundings cleaner.
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