Mineralogical, Chemical and Morphological Studies of Fly Ashes from Thermal Power Stations of India

Mineralogical, chemical and morphological characteristics of fly ash collected from three thermal power stations viz. Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS), Chandrapura Thermal Power Station (CTPS) and Durgapur Thermal Power Station (DTPS) of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), India have been well addressed in the present paper through analytical studies. The study reflects that all three samples are F type of fly ashes. According to mineralogical study quartz is the major component in all the three fly ash samples while the minor components are magnetite and hematite. Morphological study using scanning electron microscopy technique has revealed that the fly ash samples consist of spherical (solid or hollow spheres), oval or irregularly shaped particles of varying size. The study has also shown that the fly ashes from these thermal power stations can be used for various purposes such as backfilling in open cast mines, stowing in underground mines, cement manufacture, in paints as an extender, reclamation of subsided land etc.