Coal combustion and associated stack clean-up technologies generate hundreds of millions of tons of Coal Combustion Products (CCPs) annually in the USA.  Fly ash (see picture to right) is the most common CCP and is usually removed by bag-houses and/or electrostatic precipitator technologies. Increasing amounts of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) solids are also generated by various wet and dry sulfur scrubbing technologies. We have worked cooperatively with the coal industry, coal fired utilities, and the regulatory community since 1990 to characterize the properties and potential beneficial uses of CCPs over time.

Our work has included detailed studies of various applications of CCP potentials for acid mine drainage control and use as topical mine soil amendments.  The overriding objectives of our research and outreach programs in this area have been (1) to objectively determine the actual beneficial use potential of various CCPs, and (2) to ensure that soil and water quality are protected over the long-term wherever CCPs are land applied or used as fills.

Over the years, we have evaluated CCP’s (particularly flue gas gypsum) as a part of our collaborative work with the VDACS Waste and Residual Screening Program for their potential use as agricultural soil amendments.   Relevant publications, regulations, reports and public presentation files are available on the pages linked below.