Resource recovery from pulverized fly ash and bottom ash

Coal fly ash (CFA), generated from combustion in coal-fired plants, is an industrial solid waste, which is recognized as a vast environmental pollutant. Large amounts of CFA are discharged every year in the world and presently underutilized owing to technical limits. The improper disposal and irregular accumulation of CFA endanger both human health and the environment. With the increasingly strict environmental protection policy, the utilization and consumption of CFA has gradually become a research hotspot. In recent years, many new and valuable knowledge and technologies on the utilization of CFA were developed. In this chapter, the utilization of CFA in functional materials, as fillers in coatings, preparation of fertilizer, recovery valuable metals, and high-value consumer products, is discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of each application are also discussed. This chapter aims to add to the further understanding of current utilizations of CFA and identifying the promising applications.