Ash Management in Indian Power Plants: Current Status, Challenges and Future Directions

Abstract

Coal-fired thermal power plants in India generate large quantities of fly ash and bottom ash, creating significant environmental and operational challenges while also offering opportunities for resource recovery. This present manuscript presents a comprehensive overview of ash composition, mineral phases, and physicochemical characteristics, drawing on advanced analytical techniques such as XRD, XRF, SEM, particle-size analysis, and elemental mapping to illustrate the variability and complexity of fly ash generated across different combustion systems. The discussion highlights both the environmental risks associated with improper ash disposal—such as groundwater contamination, particulate pollution, and heavy-metal leaching—and the growing potential for transforming fly ash into value-added materials. Applications including zeolite synthesis, water-treatment adsorbents, supplementary cementitious materials, ceramics, alum production, and agricultural amendments are examined with support from recent literature. By synthesizing developments in characterization, utilization, and environmental assessment, the present manuscript emphasizes the need for integrated ash management strategies that align scientific understanding with sustainable industrial practices.