Utilisation

Value

Utilising minerals from coal means:

• Aiming to help preserve nature's gift of primary mineral resources
• Providing valuable raw materials
• Strengthening of the built environment by enhancing durability of concrete
• Adding a green label to construction

Governments are more and more favouring the use of secondary raw materials. Legislation and rules to increase such use are being improved. In several cases the minerals from coal bring extra quality and higher performance compared to the prime raw materials which are being replaced. Applying minerals from coal adds a green label to construction due to energy savings and preservation of natural resources.

In the European Union (EU 15) approximately 64 million tonnes of CCPs were produced in 2005. Fly ash, which is obtained by electrostatic or mechanical precipitation of dust like particles from the flue gas, represents the greatest proportion of total CCP production. Within the EU, the utilisation for Fly Ash in the construction industry is currently around 48% and for Bottom Ash around 45%, while the utilisation rate for Boiler Slag is 100%. In the majority of cases CCPs are used as a replacement for naturally occurring resources and therefore offer environmental benefits by avoiding the need to quarry or mine these resources. CCPs also help to reduce energy demand as well as emissions to atmosphere, for example CO₂, which result from the manufacturing process of the products which are replaced.

CCPs are utilised in a wide range of applications in the building and construction industry.Applications for CCPs include their use as an addition in concrete as a cement replacement material and as an aggregate or binder in road construction. They can also be utilised as mineral fillers and as fertilisers. Where necessary, CCPs meet any relevant national and European building materials standard and regulation.

A graph on the utilisation of fly ash in the construction industry and in underground mining in 2005 is given below.