Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coal bottom ash use in traditional ceramic production: evaluation of engineering properties and indoor air pollution removal ability

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coal bottom ash (CBA) disposed to landfills causes environmental issues. Thus, we used CBA in traditional clay ceramics that had the triple advantage of consuming troublesome waste, adsorbing volatile organics and being decorative indoors, replacing up to 40% by weight of clay with CBA and firing from 700 to 1300 °C. Clay and CBA mixtures were cast, cured at room temperature for 24 h and fired at several temperatures. Firing temperature impacted linear shrinkage, water absorption and fracture toughness, more strongly than CBA mixing proportion. Above 1000 °C, fracture toughness and water absorption resistance was enhanced but shrinkage increased. However, adding CBA lessened the contraction. SEM confirmed complete sintering as clay particles fused as a rigid solid above 1000 °C. X-ray diffraction patterns of ceramics containing CBA showed crystobalite and labradorite, in addition to quartz, due to flux materials in CBA. Leachability tests showed that the CBA ceramics were not ‘toxic’ on the USEPA TCLP regulatory list. Adsorption of gaseous toluene, a representative indoor pollutant, followed a Freundlich model: CBA made the adsorption sites more homogeneous, reduced the interaction mechanisms on the surfaces and thus the Freundlich exponent. Increased CBA increased toluene adsorption by 2–7 times.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1 
Fig. 2 
Fig. 3 
Fig. 4 
Fig. 5 

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (2016) Research report on potential utilization of lignite fly ash (in Thai). https://maemoh.egat.com/index_maemoh/index.php?content=sara&topic=2. Accessed 17 Aug 2019

  2. Rukzon S, Phoopa W, Ngernprom N, Chindaprasirt P (2012) Final report on the innovation of use of bottom ash on green concrete (in Thai). Rajamagala University of technology Pra Nakorn, Bangkok, Thailand

  3. Hoonsanong V, Ruedeewiroj S, Nopira K, Phonchaisaeng S (2014) Study of preliminary properties of bottom ash purposively used for highway construction materials (in Thai). Bureau of Materials Analysis and Inspection, Department of Highways, Thailand

    Google Scholar 

  4. Mushtaq F, Zahida M, Bhatti IA, Nasir S, Hussain T (2019) Possible applications of coal fly ash in wastewater treatment. J Environ Manag 240:27–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hannan NIR, Shahidan S, Ali N, Maarof MZ (2017) A Comprehensive review on the properties of coal bottom ash in concrete as sound absorption material. In: MATEC Web of conferences, 103: 01005. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201710301005

  6. Singh N, Mithulraj M, Arya S (2018) Influence of coal bottom ash as fine aggregates replacement on various properties of concretes: a review. Resour Conserv Recycl 138:257–271. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/381704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Glymond D, Roberts A, Russell M, Cheeseman C (2018) Production of ceramics from coal furnace bottom ash. Ceram Int 44:3009–3014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.11.057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Predeanu G, Popescu LG, Abagiu TA, Panaitescu C, Valentim B, Guedes A (2016) Characterization of bottom ash of Pliocene lignite as ceramic composites raw material by petrographic, SEM/EDS and Raman microspectroscopical methods. Int J Coal Geol 168:131–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2016.08.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Eli-Quesada D, Leite-Costa J (2016) Use of bottom ash from olive pomace combustion in the production of eco-friendly fired clay bricks. J Waste Manag 48:323–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cahan R, Stein M, Anker Y, Langzam Y, Nitzan Y (2013) Innovative utilization of coal bottom ash for bioremediation of toxic organic pollutants. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 85:421–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2013.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu ZS, Li WK, Huang CY (2014) Synthesis of mesoporous silica materials from municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash. J Waste Manag 34:893–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.02.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu ZS, Lan MH (2019) Synthesis of mesoporous silica materials from incineration bottom ash for the removal of toluene. Int J Environ Sci Technol 10:96–99. https://doi.org/10.18178/ijesd.2019.10.3.1154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. He H, Yue Q, Su Y, Gao B, Gao Y, Wang J, Yu H (2011) Preparation and mechanism of the sintered bricks produced from Yellow River silt and red mud. J Hazard Mater 203–204:53–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.11.095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wikipedia (2019) Leather-hard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leather-hard. Accessed 9 Sept 2019

  15. TISI (2010) Thai industrial standard for ceramic tiles – part 2 determination of dimensions and surface quality (in Thai). TSI-2398 (Reapproved 2010), Thai Industrial Standard Institute, Ministry of Industry, Thailand

  16. ASTM (2010) Standard test methods for apparent porosity, water absorption, apparent specific gravity, and bulk density of burned refractory brick and shapes by boiling water. ASTM C20-00 (Reapproved 2010), ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA

  17. US EPA (1992) Toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) method 13–11. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  18. Industrial Waste Management Division (2003) Criteria of secured landfill for treated/stabilized and solidified hazardous waste (in Thai). Department of industrial promotion, Thailand. https://facwaste.diw.go.th/upload/content/doc1455507460.pdf. Accessed 20 Aug 2018

  19. Ongwandee M, Moonrinta R, Panyametheekul S, Tangbanluekal C, Morrison G (2011) Investigation of volatile organic compounds in office buildings in Bangkok, Thailand: concentrations, sources, and occupant symptoms. Build Environ 46:1512–1522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.01.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Panyametheekul S, Rattanapun T, Ongwandee M (2018) Ability of artificial and live houseplants to capture indoor particulate matter. Indoor Built Environ 27:121–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X16671016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. US EPA (2004) Revised assessment of detection and quantitation approaches EPA-821-B-04–005. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  22. Weber WJ Jr, DiGiano FA (1996) Process dynamics in environmental systems. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  23. Berthouex MP, Brown LC (1994) Statistics for environmental engineers. Lewis, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mahmoudi S, Bennour A, Meguebli A, Srasra E, Zargouni F (2016) Characterization and traditional ceramic application of clays from the Douiret region in South Tunisia. Appl Clay Sci 127–128:78–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.04.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Daly G (1995) Glazes and glazing techniques: a glaze journey. A & C Black, London

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bennour A, Mahmoudi S, Srasra E, Boussend S, Htira N (2015) Composition, firing behavior and ceramic properties of the Sejnène clays (Northwest Tunisia). Appl Clay Sci 115:30–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2015.07.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kingery WD (1960) Ceramic fabrication processes. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  28. Biró A, Hlavička V, Lublóy E (2019) Effect of fire-related temperatures on natural stones. Constr Build Mater 10:92–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.03.333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Hashizume H (2002) Basal spacing of montmorillonite/amino acid complexes at different relative humidity. Clay Sci 11:565–574. https://doi.org/10.11362/jcssjclayscience1960.11.565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ayawei N, Ebelegi AN, Wankasi D (2017) Modelling and interpretation of adsorption isotherms. J Chem. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3039817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ongwandee M, Chatsuvan T, Suksawas Na Ayudhya W, Morris J (2017) Understanding interactions in the adsorption of gaseous organic compounds to indoor materials. Environ Sci Pollut R 24:5654–5668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8302-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the Office of Higher Education Commission, Thailand, and the S&T Postgraduate Education and Research Development Office, Thailand, for financial support (HSM-PJ-CT-18-21), the Faculty of Engineering and Center of Laboratory Equipment of Mahasarakham University and the Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management, Chulalongkorn University, for support in funding, facilities and equipment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Metropolitan Development, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand

    Maneerat Ongwandee

  2. Research Program: Sustainable Management of Industrial and Agricultural Wastes for Transitioning to a Circular Economy, Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management (HSM), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Maneerat Ongwandee & Orathai Chavalparit

  3. Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand

    Kan Namepol & Kamolchai Yongprapat

  4. Division of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand

    Sahalaph Homwuttiwong

  5. Division of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, 44150, Thailand

    Adisak Pattiya

  6. King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, 10520, Thailand

    John Morris

  7. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Orathai Chavalparit

Authors
  1. Maneerat Ongwandee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kan Namepol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kamolchai Yongprapat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sahalaph Homwuttiwong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Adisak Pattiya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. John Morris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Orathai Chavalparit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maneerat Ongwandee.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ongwandee, M., Namepol, K., Yongprapat, K. et al. Coal bottom ash use in traditional ceramic production: evaluation of engineering properties and indoor air pollution removal ability. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 22, 2118–2129 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01096-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01096-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation