Utilization of coal fly ash in China: a mini-review on challenges and future directions

Yang Luo; Yinghong Wu; Shuhua Ma; Shili Zheng; Yi Zhang; Paul K. Chu

doi:10.1007/s11356-020-08864-4

Author(s)

Shuhua Ma
Shili Zheng
Yi Zhang

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original language	English
Journal / Publication	Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Online published	28 Apr 2020
Publication status	Online published - 28 Apr 2020

Link(s)

DOI	DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08864-4
	Check@CityULib
Link to Scopus	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85084198714&origin=recordpage
Permanent Link	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/publication(2a5d12de-4f41-4ada-96b5-8f6b92e90bd3).html

Abstract

The rapid economic development in China places a large demand for energy, and as a result, thermal power plants in China are producing an enormous amount of coal fly ash (CFA) which causes severe environmental pollution. This paper briefly describes the current production and utilization status of CFA in China and identifies the challenges confronting sustainable CFA utilization as the Chinese economy is being transformed. These issues include a regional imbalance in supply and demand, reducing demand in the real estate industry as well as stricter laws for environmental protection. Viable directions for future CFA utilization are proposed, for example, production of CFA-based ceramic tiles, recovery of elemental resources, agricultural melioration, treatment of wastewater and flue gas, and production of high-volume CFA concretes. This paper has some guiding significance for sustainable and cleaner utilization of CFA in China and even worldwide.