Environmental Assessment of Ash Disposal

Combustion processes for power generation or waste volume reduction result in the generation of mostly inorganic ash residues. Recycling or reuse of these materials is sometimes possible; however, presently, the major portion must be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable way. In this review, the physical and chemical properties of these ashes are presented, and their suitability for various purposes are assessed. Included is information on leachate generation and how inorganic species interact and are transported in porous media. In view of these principles, appropriate environmental control strategies are presented and discussed.