Effective utilization and environmental management of fly ash as a geoliner constituent material

Fly ash is a coal combustion byproduct. It is generally light grey in color and consists mostly of silt- and claysized glassy spheres. It is regarded as a solid waste material and hazardous to health as it causes many occupational diseases. One of the best methods to minimize the fly ash landfills impact is to utilize it in social and economical manner like in concrete production, due to its pozzolanic and cementitious properties, or by using it in other applications such as a geoliner construction material. The concept of utilizing fly ash as a geoliner firstly needs to optimize and analyze the characteristics of fly ash to be used as a worthy liner material. One of the factors, which need to be study for the formation of geoliner, is the geoliner contamination potential. Since material with potential contaminants cannot be used as liner material. The leaching water through ICPMS analysis revealed that all the elements detected are below Indian standard of drinking water. Hence Fly ash can be used as a geoliner construction material and an alternative for waste management in India.