Trace element analysis of fly ash by PIXE

Fly ash is a major component of solid material generated by the coal-fired thermal power plants. In India the total amount of fly ash produced per annum is around 100 million tonnes. Fly ash has a great potential for utilization in making industrial products such as cement, bricks as well as building materials, besides being used as a soil conditioner and a provider of micro nutrients in agriculture. However, given the large amount of fly ash that accumulate at thermal power plants, their possible reuse and dispersion and mobilization into the environment of the various elements depend on climate, soils, indigenous vegetation and agriculture practices. Fly ash use in agriculture improved various physico-chemical properties of soil, particularly the water holding capacity, porosity and available plant nutrients. However it is generally apprehended that the application of large quantity of fly ash in fields may affect the plant growth and soil texture. Hence there is a need to characterize trace elements of fly ash. The results of trace element analysis of fly ash and pond ash samples collected from major thermal power plants of India by Particle Induced X-ray Emission(PIXE) have been discussed. (author)