Q: With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
- Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
- Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3
d) 3 only
The correct answer is 1 and 2.
Fly ash
- It is the finely divided residue that results from the combustion of pulverised coal and is transported from the combustion chamber by exhaust gases.
- It is produced by coal-fired electric and steam-generating plants.
- It is used annually in a variety of engineering applications that include: Portland cement concrete (PCC), soil and road base stabilization, flowable fills, grouts, structural fill and asphalt filler. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
- Portland cement, Embankment, Soil stabilization, Flowable fill, Asphalt concrete, Geopolymers, Roller compacted concrete, Bricks, Metal matrix composites, Waste treatment and stabilization, Catalyst.
Benefits of Fly Ash
- extending the lifespan of concrete structures and roadways by enhancing concrete durability, Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
- a decrease in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and other harmful air emissions when fly ash is utilised in place of or in addition to made cement,
- a decrease in the volume of coal combustion waste that must be dumped in landfills, and
- protection of other materials and natural resources.
- It consists primarily of oxides of silicon, aluminium iron and calcium. Magnesium, potassium, sodium, titanium, and sulphur are also present to a lesser degree. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.
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