Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties

This experimental study explores the transformation of coal bottom ash (CBA), an industrial by-product, into a high-performance pozzolan to replace traditional cement in construction materials. CBA’s disposal has challenges due to its low reactivity and the risk of heavy metal leaching, which limits...

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Main Author: Rahimah, Embong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/1/Transforming%20coal%20bottom%20ash%20into%20a%20high-performance%20pozzolan.pdf
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author Rahimah, Embong
author_facet Rahimah, Embong
author_sort Rahimah, Embong
building UMP Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This experimental study explores the transformation of coal bottom ash (CBA), an industrial by-product, into a high-performance pozzolan to replace traditional cement in construction materials. CBA’s disposal has challenges due to its low reactivity and the risk of heavy metal leaching, which limits its sustainable reuse. To overcome these barriers, an innovative acid pre-treatment process was developed, enhancing CBA’s reactivity by removing deleterious materials and increasing silica content. Advanced characterization techniques reveal significantly lower metal content and increased silica content in the treated CBA, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable alternative. Treated CBA shows positively impacts mortar binder properties, as indicated by higher strength activity index values compared to untreated specimens. The treated CBA demonstrated a significant enhancement in mortar binder properties, achieving a 20% higher strength activity index compared to untreated samples. These findings highlight treated CBA’s potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional cementitious materials. This work advances the utilization of industrial by-products in construction, promoting environmental sustainability and reducing reliance on traditional cement.
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spelling ump-451252025-07-21T00:29:23Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/ Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties Rahimah, Embong TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TP Chemical technology This experimental study explores the transformation of coal bottom ash (CBA), an industrial by-product, into a high-performance pozzolan to replace traditional cement in construction materials. CBA’s disposal has challenges due to its low reactivity and the risk of heavy metal leaching, which limits its sustainable reuse. To overcome these barriers, an innovative acid pre-treatment process was developed, enhancing CBA’s reactivity by removing deleterious materials and increasing silica content. Advanced characterization techniques reveal significantly lower metal content and increased silica content in the treated CBA, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable alternative. Treated CBA shows positively impacts mortar binder properties, as indicated by higher strength activity index values compared to untreated specimens. The treated CBA demonstrated a significant enhancement in mortar binder properties, achieving a 20% higher strength activity index compared to untreated samples. These findings highlight treated CBA’s potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional cementitious materials. This work advances the utilization of industrial by-products in construction, promoting environmental sustainability and reducing reliance on traditional cement. Springer 2025 Article PeerReviewed pdf en cc_by_4 http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/1/Transforming%20coal%20bottom%20ash%20into%20a%20high-performance%20pozzolan.pdf Rahimah, Embong (2025) Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 10 (7). pp. 1-17. ISSN 2364-4176. (Published) https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-025-02110-x https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-025-02110-x
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
TP Chemical technology
Rahimah, Embong
Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title_full Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title_fullStr Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title_full_unstemmed Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title_short Transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: Effects of acid treatment on material properties
title_sort transforming coal bottom ash into a high-performance pozzolan: effects of acid treatment on material properties
topic TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
TP Chemical technology
url http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45125/1/Transforming%20coal%20bottom%20ash%20into%20a%20high-performance%20pozzolan.pdf