Sains Malaysiana 48(4)(2019): 745–755

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4804-06

 

Properties of Fly Ashes from Thermal Power Stations in Relation to Use as Soil Amendments

(Sifat Abu Cerobong dari Stesen Janakuasa Terma yang Berkaitan dengan Kegunaan sebagai Pindaan Tanah)

 

LE VAN THIEN¹*, NGO THI TUONG CHAU¹, LE THI THAM HONG¹, NGUYEN THU TRANG¹ & HIROYUKI FUTAMATA²

 

¹Vietnam National University, University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam

 

²Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8529, Japan

 

Received: 4 December 2017/Accepted: 6 February 2019

 

ABSTRACT

Recycling fly ashes is a good alternative to disposal with the significant economic and environmental benefits. Characterization of fly ashes can be helpful to evaluate their use potentials. This study aimed to investigate the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of fly ashes from five thermal power stations in Northern Vietnam in relation to use as sandy soil amendments. The results showed that the fly ashes were dominated by silt-sized and spherical particles and had low bulk densities. There was almost not significant difference in the surface charges among the fly ashes; however, their surface areas varied widely. The fly ashes were alkaline. The electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity in the fly ashes were higher than those in the sandy soil. The concentrations of extractable K, P, Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the fly ashes were higher compared with the sandy soil. The major matrix elements in the fly ashes were Si, Al, and Fe together with significant percentages of K, Mg, Ca and Ti. Quartz was the most predominant mineral present in the fly ashes. Several radioactive elements were found in the fly ashes with very low concentrations. The potential to release trace elements from the fly ashes was below the regulatory guidelines. The amendment of fly ashes to the sandy soil led to the substantial decrease in the hydraulic conductivity but the increase in the plant-available water contents of the sandy soil. It is recommended to use the fly ashes as soil amendments for sandy soil amelioration.

 

Keywords: Fly ash; sandy soil; soil amelioration; soil amendment; thermal power station

 

ABSTRAK

Mengitar semula abu cerobong adalah alternatif pelupusan yang baik daripada sudut ekonomi dan alam sekitar. Pencirian abu cerobong membantu untuk menilai potensi kegunaannya. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji sifat fizikal, kimia dan mineralogi abu cerobong dari lima stesen janakuasa haba di Vietnam Utara yang berkait dengan pemindahan tanah berpasir. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan bahawa abu cerobong didominasi oleh zarah yang bersaiz kelodak dan sfera dan mempunyai ketumpatan pukal yang rendah. Tiada perbezaan yang ketara pada cas permukaan bagi abu cerobong namun luas kawasan permukaannya adalah berbeza. Abu cerobong bersifat alkali. Kekonduksian elektrik dan kapasiti pertukaran kation abu cerobong lebih tinggi berbanding tanah berpasir. Kepekatan K, P, Ca2 + dan Mg2 + terekstrak di dalam abu cerobong lebih tinggi berbanding tanah berpasir. Unsur matriks utama dalam abu cerobong adalah Si, Al dan Fe berserta peratusan besar bagi unsur K, Ca, Mg dan Ti. Kuarza adalah mineral pradominan dalam abu cerobong. Beberapa unsur radioaktif ditemui dalam abu cerobong dengan kepekatan yang sangat rendah. Potensi untuk melepaskan unsur-unsur surih daripada abu cerobong adalah di bawah dasar garis panduan. Pindaan abu cerobong ke tanah berpasir membawa kepada penurunan ketara kekonduksian hidraulik tetapi peningkatan kandungan air yang terdapat dalam tanah berpasir. Adalah disarankan untuk menggunakan abu cerobong sebagai pindaan tanah untuk ameliorasi tanah berpasir.

 

Kata kunci: Abu cerobong; ameliorasi tanah; pindaan tanah; stesen janakuasa haba; tanah berpasir

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*Corresponding author; email: levanthien@hus.edu.vn