Name: Ramya Nambiar

College: CMR National PU college, ITPL campus, Bangalore

Item observed: Fly ash

Description:-

Fly ash is produced by the burning of powdered coal and other materials. All fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (both amorphous and crystalline), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO). It also has unburnt carbon. ­

When viewed under the foldscope, it appears as silt-sized particles which are generally spherical, typically ranging in size between 10 and 100 micron. These particles improve the fluidity and workability of fresh concrete. Fly ash is very fine and this is one of the important properties of it. The pollutant-bound fly ash can be converted into bricks and used for building drainage. The polymer can lock the impurities in its solid structure.

Fly ash is also­ used as a lake cleaning agent. Pollutants (organic, inorganic, heavy metals) bind to fly ash almost 100% in any kind of polluted water. It helps in the treatment of polluted water even at 10,000/20,000 parts per million (ppm). Water treated by fly ash is colorless and devoid of most pollutants, and fit for industrial and agricultural use. Once treated under ion exchange and reverse osmosis, the water can even be used for drinking.