Converting Waste Fly Ash into Valuable Products: An Insight into Processing Techniques and Applications

The dependency of human civilization on electronic items and gadgets is rising at an accelerating pace due to the enormous population explosion. Moreover, to run these electronic items, electricity is a necessity that can be fulfilled only from thermal power plants, especially in countries like India, which have few nuclear power plants. However, fly ash generated from these thermal power plants has become an alarming concern in recent decades. Researchers and scientists have worked incessantly on upcycling and recycling fly ash strategies. The current book chapter discussed various fly ash types and their sources. Depending on their application, the collected fly ash may be treated via different methods, which are discussed thoroughly in this chapter. Further, treated fly ash can be used as a filler in developing various composites categorized based on their application. In addition, some of the incidents and drawbacks associated with fly ash have also been covered. This detailed book chapter gives an overview of the application of fly ash in different industries. It is intended to help researchers and industrialists understand the need to treat fly ash specifically to the tailored applications, thereby contributing to the global waste-to-wealth initiatives.