Description : This study focuses on some chemical and physical characteristics of ash samples from Kathara captive thermal power plant, Jharkhand, India. In addition, mineralogical and morphological studies were determined using XRD and SEM (EDX). The chemical characteristics included in this study were pH, electrical conductivity, available nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, organic carbon and DTPA extractable metals. Based on the chemical characteristics it can be stated that Kathara ash samples are enriched in various nutrients which are very much suitable for agricultural application and land reclamation. pH was found 7.96 and 8.14 and conductivity was found 0.414 mS/cm and 0.287 mS/cm in case of KFA and KPA samples respectively. The physical characteristics such as bulk density (KFA-0.99 g/cc and KPA-1.25 g/cc), porosity (KFA - 47.98 % and KPA - 42.67 %), specific gravity (KFA - 2.27 and KPA-2.18), water holding capacity (KFA- 50.44 % and KPA-36.69 %) and liquid limit (KFA-28 % and KPA-32%) were determined. Physical characteristics established that ash samples are useful for various structural and mine fill applications. Mineralogical study showed that quartz is presents as a major component and muscovite and illite are present as minor component in these ash samples. SEM (EDX) represents that ash samples are mainly composed of Si-Al-Fe compound with traces of K, Zn, and Ti. Thus,the ash samples were found to be environment friendly and highly utiliosable.
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