Evaluation of Coal Bottom Ash for clay brick manufacturing: a preliminary study

Abstract

Currently, industrial, economic, and social growth has produced large amounts of solid waste, which harms the environment and human health. Coal bottom ash (CBA) is a waste produced by burning coal. A preliminary study on CBA, to be used as raw material for the clay bricks manufacture, is presented. CBA was characterized through the Laser Granulometry, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques; besides, the real and apparent density and the content of organic matter. Furthermore, the environmental tests Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) and Daphnia Pulex acute toxicity test, were applied. It was found that the CBA is an amorphous material, and is composed of oxides of silica, iron, aluminum, and others, while the environmental tests satisfactorily met the applicable standards. According to the results, it is concluded that the CBA has a great potential to be used in the manufacture of bricks.

Keywords

• bottom ash
• clay bricks
• coal
• reuse
• waste management
• solid waste