ABSTRACT
Thermal power plants generate approximately 75% of India’s electricity, with coal-fired plants producing vast amounts of fly ash (FA). Despite its industrial potential, FA utilization remains lower than its production, leading to massive ash ponds near power plants. The erosion of these disposal sites by wind is a significant environmental issue. High-speed winds disperse FA particles over long distances which deposits on vegetation and water bodies disrupting the ecosystem. Several mitigation strategies, such as water spraying, soil covering, and ash-field planting, have been employed but there are lot of site-specific limitations for adopting these mitigation strategies. Recently, surface-cured dust control has gained attention as a cost-effective and easy-to-apply technique for both active and decommissioned FA sites. This paper explores the potential of geopolymerization techniques for the mitigation of wind erosion. Geopolymers, formed through the reaction of FA with alkaline activators, create a durable, erosion-resistant matrix, reducing wind induced FA erosion.
