Lapshyn Ye., Shevchenko O. Possibilities of comprehensive processing of ash and slag waste from thermal power plants of ukraine as a condition for the implementation of the transition to a circular economy
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2025, Issue 174
Geotech. meh. 2025, 174, 105-123
POSSIBILITIES OF COMPREHENSIVE PROCESSING OF ASH AND SLAG WASTE FROM THERMAL POWER PLANTS OF UKRAINE AS A CONDITION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSITION TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine
UDC 622.33: 621.311.22.002.84
Language: English
Abstract. Simultaneously with the generation of energy at thermal power plants (TPPs) and combined heat and power plants (CHPPs), as a result of the combustion of solid fuel, ash and slag waste (ASW) is generated, which is produced in large quantities and poses a serious environmental hazard. At the same time, the waste accumulated over many years has a huge resource potential, a unique mineral composition, a complex distribution of useful components, which is not typical for natural deposits, representing, in fact, man-made deposits. It is necessary to use the experience of industrially developed countries in the maximum extraction of secondary resources and their use in industrial production instead of natural mineral raw materials. Integrated use of waste is a condition for the implementation of the transition to a circular economy. An analysis of previous studies of the properties of slags and fly ash, the possibility of extracting useful components from them is performed. The main directions for reducing the amount of waste and eliminating storage facilities are established. The possibility and feasibility of complex processing of ASW was revealed using the example of improving the technology and equipment of the Chernihiv and Darnytsia CHPPs. The properties of daily ash collected under the electrostatic precipitators of the Chernihiv and Darnytsia CHPPs were studied. The size classes with the highest carbon content and the possibilities of its extraction were determined. The range of changes in the amount of carbon in the slag was studied and the obtained results were analyzed. The possibility of separating the finest classes containing clay and dust particles by boundary size of 0.02 mm and extracting various useful components from the ash was established using a vibratory impact screen. The carbon obtained from the ash can be used for combustion at TPPs and CHPPs. The magnetic concentrate extracted in the form of powder can be used for metallurgy, production of ferrosilicon, cast iron and steel. To obtain an aluminosilicate product, such a dry processing method as electrostatic separation can be used. Complex processing of ash is advantageous from both an economic and environmental point of view. It will reduce the amount of waste sent to storage facilities, reduce the territories that are alienated for them and become unsuitable for living. Thermal power plants will be able to earn money on this. According to experts, ash processing can provide an increase in the profitability of enterprises by 10–20%. This approach will solve a set of social, economic and environmental problems, significantly save natural resources and reduce the deficit of various materials.
Keywords: power plants, coal combustion products, waste, ash, slag, processing, classification, extraction, secondary raw materials
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About the authors
Lapshyn Yevhen, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Senior Researcher, Leading Researcher in Department Ecology of Natural Resources Development, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0002-5443-5566
Shevchenko Oleksandr, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher in Department of Geomechanics of Mineral Opencast Mining Technology, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , (Corresponding author), ORCID 0000-0003-2630-0186