Utilization of Fly Ash in Sustainable Soil Management
Summary
Fly ash, the fine particulate residue produced by coal combustion, has emerged as a versatile soil-management resource. Its high concentrations of aluminosilicates, calcium and trace nutrients confer pozzolanic activity, enabling the material to bind soil particles, improve mechanical stability and enhance water-retention capacity. Amendments with fly ash can adjust soil pH, reduce leaching of contaminants and supply macro- and micronutrients, supporting plant growth on degraded or marginal lands. Engineered formulations combine fly ash with organic matter or other industrial by-products to create artificial soils for reclamation of mine spoils and eroded slopes. Geopolymerisation of fly ash yields cementitious binders for soil stabilisation beneath infrastructure. Additionally, the mineral-carbonation potential of calcium-rich fly ashes offers opportunities for simultaneous carbon sequestration and soil remediation. Collectively, these approaches advance circular-economy principles by valorising a waste stream in both agricultural and engineering applications while mitigating environmental risk.
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Utilization of Fly Ash in Sustainable Soil Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in utilization of fly ash in sustainable soil management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pozzolanic reaction: Chemical process in which siliceous and aluminous fly ash reacts with calcium hydroxide to form cementitious hydrates.
Geopolymer: Inorganic polymeric binder produced by alkali activation of aluminosilicate materials such as fly ash, yielding a durable, cement-like matrix.
Soil amendment: Any material added to soil to improve its physical or chemical properties, including nutrient availability, structure and water-holding capacity.
Soil stabilisation: Engineering technique in which additives (e.g. fly ash) enhance soil strength, stiffness and erosion resistance for construction or reclamation.
Artificial soil: Engineered substrate formulated from waste and organic materials to mimic natural soil for land-reclamation and ecological restoration.
References
- A Comprehensive Review on Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer. Journal of Composites Science (2022).
- State of the art review on physiochemical and engineering characteristics of fly ash and its applications. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology (2022).
- Semi-Dry Carbonation Process Using Fly Ash from Solid Refused Fuel Power Plant. Sustainability (2019).
- Application of Coal Ash to Postmine Land for Prevention of Soil Erosion in Coal Mine in Indonesia: Utilization of Fly Ash and Bottom Ash. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering (2016).
- Development of Soil Substitutes for the Sustainable Land Reclamation of Coal Mine-Affected Areas. Sustainability (2022).
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