Challenges and Developments in the Utilization of Fly Ash in China

Abstract

China's coal-fired power plants produce about 600 million tons fly ash annually, which has caused severe economic and environmental problems. This paper first describes briefly the production and utilization status of coal fly ash in China. Then it analyzes the main challenges to the fly ash utilization in China due to the conflict between the huge amount production of fly ash and the depressed consumption of fly ash, as well as the increasing driving forces in the environmental protection. Subsequently, the new developments of fly ash utilization in China, including valuable elements extraction, geopolymer production, fly ash-based ceramics synthesis and soil desertification control are introduced in detail.