Approximately 90 million tons of coal combustion byproducts (CCB) are generated annually by the electric utility industry in the United States. The major byproducts include fly ash (~54%), bottom ash (~16%), boiler slag (~7%), and flue gas desulfurization sludges (~23%). Of the amount generated, about 19 million tons are beneficially used, primarily fly ash as a Portland cement replacement in concrete and concrete products. The remaining, about 71 million tons, is disposed of in impoundments and landfills. The costs for these disposal methods continue to increase due to more stringent environmental regulatory requirements and rising material, labor, and site development costs. As such, these increasing disposal costs are causing the electric utility industry to pursue other disposal and utilization alternatives.

Authors: Thomas A. Gray, Timothy N. Kyper, and James L. Snodgrass

Source: Energeia: University of Kentucky - Center for Applied Energy Research | Vol.8  Isuue No. 6 | Year 1997

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