Assessment of environmental and chemical properties of coal ashes including fly ash and bottom ash, and coal ash concrete

Abstract

Cement and aggregates are the essential materials for concrete production. Besides, industrial wastes supplant construction materials. Investigating the engineering properties and environmental aspects of concrete produced with waste materials is required. Thus, this study researched leaching, chemical, and physical properties of the coal power plant wastes and concrete containing coal ashes. These wastes included Fly Ash (FA) and Bottom Ash (BA). X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the physicochemical traits, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and semi-dynamic tank leaching procedure (SDTLP) determined the leaching performance. Physicochemical analysis of FA and BA showed that these wastes, by-products can be a part of cement and fine aggregate substitute in concrete production. However, leaching test results did not demonstrate any leaching trace elements and heavy metals to the environment from BA, FA, and coal ash concrete. The FA and BA had the potential as cement and fine aggregate replacements, respectively. Using coal ashes (FA and BA), sustainable and green concrete can be made having advantages, such as reducing the final cost production of concrete and utilizing less natural resources.