Fly Ash

                                              Fly Ash

 

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) clarified the compliance dates for the complete utilisation of fly ash for Thermal Power Plants (TPP).

 

So, What is Fly Ash?

1. Fly ash is the unwanted unburnt residue of coal combustion in a coal thermal power plant.
2. It is emitted along with flue gases during the burning of coal in a furnace and collected using the electrostatic precipitators.
3. The fly ash collected with the help of precipitators is converted into a wet slurry to minimise dust emissions.
4. It is then transported to the scientifically designed ash ponds through slurry pipelines.
5. Composition of fly ash depends upon the composition of coal being burnt. It may contain Beryllium, Arsenic, unburnt Carbon, Silicon Oxides, Dioxins, aluminium oxide, ferric oxide, calcium oxide, etc. These elements are severe environmental pollutants.
6. Fly Ash looks like Portland cement but is chemically different.
7. Portland cement is a binding material in the form of a finely ground powder that is manufactured by burning and grinding a mixture of limestone and clay.
8. Its chemical composition includes calcium silicates, calcium aluminate and calcium aluminoferrite.
9. Fly Ash can be used in concrete and cement products, road base, metal recovery, and mineral filler among others.

 

 

 

Harmful Effects of Fly Ash are: 

1. Fly ash particles are toxic air pollutants. They can trigger heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke.
2. When combined with water they cause leaching of heavy metals in ground water.
3. It also pollutes the soil, and affects the root development system of trees.
4. Gross under-utilisation of this by-product over the years has led to the accumulation of 1,670 million tonnes of fly ash according to the Summary of Ash Generation and Utilisation during 2020-2021.

 

Some Recent Initiatives taken to Utilise Fly Ash are:

1. 1. Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for sale of fly ash.
   2. NTPC has also collaborated with Cement manufacturers around the country to supply Fly Ash.
   3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana has focused on new construction technologies such as using fly ash bricks that are innovative, and environmentally friendly. Even state governments have come out with their Fly ash utilisation policies, e.g., Maharashtra was the first state to adopt the policy.
   4. A web portal for monitoring of fly ash generation and utilisation and a mobile based application titled “ASHTRACK” has been launched by the Government.
   5. Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on fly ash and its products have been reduced to 5%

 

About NTPC

1. NTPC Ltd. is a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
2. Aim: To provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner, driven by innovation and agility.
3. It became a Maharatna company in 2010.
4. It is India’s largest power generating company.

 

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