Disposing of fly ash scientifically is not an easy task. But we make it easier. And now, on to the real and most immediate concern of ours. What is being done with all the fly ash? Scientifically speaking, we dispose of the fly ash in several different ways. One of the most popular methods is to use fly ash as a filler in concrete products. In this article, we will explore What is fly ash disposal? We will also look at some of the benefits and risks associated with disposing of fly ash. And NGT’s New Fly Ash Order and how it helps the environment.
What do you understand about fly-ash?
Fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion. Its made up of finely ground particles of coal, silica, and other substances. It’s generated when we burn coal in a furnace to produce heat and power. Coal combustion generates a lot of heat. But not enough energy to keep the coal burning. To get more energy out of the coal, we must blow air through it. The air contains oxygen, which reacts with the carbon in the coal and burns it. The fly ash that’s created during this process are particles that are too small to be seen with the naked eye and has been captured by filters at different stages of combustion.
We can use fly ash in several ways after being captured by filters at different stages of combustion:
- Fly-ash is an ingredient for concrete or bricks.
- Fly-ash as an additive for soil.
Chemical composition of fly ash
Fly ash is a waste product of coal combustion. It’s a fine particulate that is created when coal burns without sufficient air. Fly ash particles are often less than 10 microns in diameter. And are about ten times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.
The chemical composition of fly ash can vary. This depends on the type of coal that was used to produce it. And how it was burned. For example, the chemical composition of fly ash from coals containing high levels of sulphur will be different from that produced by coals with low sulphur content.
What is fly ash disposal?
Fly ash is a major environmental concern because it contains heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and arsenic. And can hurt human health when it’s dumped in landfills or disposed of in nearby water sources. Fly ash has traditionally been disposed of in landfills or ponds. But these disposal methods have been found to cause environmental harm. The goal of this section will be to provide information on What is fly ash disposal? And the dangers of fly ash disposal as well as possible solutions for safe disposal. Methods for fly ash disposal include;
- Landfilling
- Surface impoundments
- Deep injection wells.
NGT’s New Fly Ash Order
The national green tribunal, on 18th January 2022, decided to look after 8 cases of mismanagement of fly-ash. And the accidents caused by fly-ash between 2013 and 2020. This is an important step toward this crisis. And could lead to better management of these infrastructures.
The (NGT) National Green Tribunal made a constitution of fly ash utilization and management mission. The foremost goal of this constitution is to monitor and coordinate all the major issues related to What is fly ash disposal. And the way to handle this.
After hearing about the NGT’s new order, many citizens are worried that this will result in a lot of pollution. But this is not the case. The new fly ash order is going to reduce the amount of fly ash being released into the environment by 50%. This will help to reduce pollution and protect people’s health. The new order will also help to protect the environment through the elimination of a lot of air pollution and dust. This is because fly ash is high in silica, which is known to be very harmful to humans. The new order will help prevent this by regulating the amount of these particles released into the environment.
One such case was after finding out that one crematorium in Ireland was disposing of up to 5 tonnes of toxic fly ash each day. The Irish Environmental Protection Agency, issued a warning to the public. This alerts us all as to the dangers of dumping this very powerful substance in rivers, lakes, or oceans. And tells us everything about What is fly ash disposal
Conclusion
The sand in our glass is already half-empty. The world has bled us dry for our antiquated idea of progress. Some people may say we should stop using coal and aggressively pursue renewables. We need to talk about our environmental responsibility.