Hot Topic: Alumina Extraction from Fly Ash

Baotou, Inner Mongolia

Aluminium is widely used in transportation, packaging and building materials sectors, due to its resistance to corrosion.  Alumina can be found in coal deposits all over the world including the US, India and China, the top three producers. Aluminium extraction however, is not a common practice in coal-fired power stations, as many struggle to justify the costs and energy costs. Inefficient systems have caused an obstacle for industry wide adaptation.

At this year’s Coal Ash Asia, in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, July 21-24, Industry professionals and researchers from around the globe will meet to discuss and share knowledge on Alumina Extraction. Discussions will explore energy and cost efficient extraction technologies, as well as international and domestic overviews from participating countries in our International Panel session.   

Our annual industrial tour will take place at Datang International Renewable Resources Development Co., Ltd. The holding company, Datang Group is a “big five” power company in China. The company is operating the first and only commercial project of Alumina Extraction of Fly ash in China, with production capacity of 200 000 tons/a Alumina, and producing paper and building materials products. Among these by-products are cement and calcium silicate board.

China universities, including the China Building Materials Academy in Beijing, lead in research pertaining to fly and bottom ash a processing and utilization. Feedback from the international community from Coal Ash Asia 2016 supported notions that China is year’s ahead in terms clean energy technology.

Processing and treating ash from coal fired power stations to the building materials industry is new to countries like Ukraine. “ The only industry that uses fly ash in Ukraine is the cement industry, with no processing or treatment, we simply feed what we get from the power station to the plant,” Andrey Garanin, business development manager from United Minerals Group (UMG) in Ukraine. Mr. Garanin attended CAA2016 to explore alternative applications for ash. After a visit to CAA’s annual industrial tour in Shuozhou, Mr. Garanin cited that there are many possibilities for effective adaptation in Ukrainian markets for Chinese tech. “China could help guide Ukraine to clean, energy efficient building materials. The infrastructure is unlike anything we’ve seen in Eastern Europe.”

Check out our introduction page to find our more about Coal Ash Asia 2017, who else will be joining us, and what other tracks we will cover at this year’s event.

Read the Wood Mackenzie report on alumina extraction!  (click here)

Global Gypsum Market to Grow 10% in the Next Decade →

Resource: The Future of Gypsum: Market Forecasts to 2016, Smithers Apex

Currently, the global gypsum market is valued at approximately $1.5 billion USD. 60% of this contributed to by the cement industry, while 33% is taken up by plasterboarding. Gypsum’s primary uses are in the settling of retarders (cement), building construction and for conditioning soil and fertilizer in agricultural applications. The 252 million ton per year industry is expecting to grow another $1 billion USD in the next two years and another 1.5billion in the 8 years following, as expressed by Ken Soezen, author of this report.

The pattern of consumption fluctuates geographically. The western world, including the US and large parts of Western Europe, use the product for wallboarding. This is not true for the rest of the world and especially in developing countries such as India and China where drier applications in instruction are not the industry standard yet.

Population growth particularly contributes to the need for gypsum in developing worlds, as the market fluctuates between the need for housing, and therefore cement becomes in higher demand. China and India, where construction and infrastructure work has exploded in recent years, became catalysts for growth in cement production in Asia. In 2012, China alone accounted for 58% of worldwide cement production, with India also making the top of the list at 10%, behind the USA.

The construction industry tends to be very cost conscious as seen in recent shifts towards eco-friendly and cost effective utilization of waste bi-products in the building materials sector.  Gypsum has become an industry favorite due to its recyclability and durability during repeated applications. Gypsum is one of the cheapest alternatives to widely used portland and sand based aggregate cements that have been the industry norm. 

Fly Ash and Affordable Housing in India's Newest 'Smart CIty'

New Delhi-

With only 1% of the population being able to afford housing at Rs 10 lakh (approx. $22,000 USD) or more, the government aims to provide affordable housing to the public for an estimated Rs 5 lakh.

To make housing more affordable for New Delhians, The Modi government has begun using waste materials in construction as well as furnishing for recent housing projects. With the object of creating ‘smart cities’, reliant on being environmentally and cost efficient, the government is experimenting with steel structures that will use 70% fly ash. These 450 sq foot houses rely on solar powered energy and consist of furniture made of fly ash.

Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister asserts that providing housing at this price will allow for a third of the population to afford housing. This is a big step towards financial independence for the poor. The housing will be provided with a subsidy that will also help with affordability.

Due to utilization and shipping logistics concerned with fly ash, the major port cities will be the target of these new ‘smart’ buildings. Gadkari went on to encourage investors to engage in public private partnerships (PPPs) in the twelve major India ports, as governments become increasingly keen on providing land in these areas for eco-friendly construction. Handling approximately 61% of India’s total cargo traffic are it’s twevle major ports - Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).