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Q18·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2015

Fly ash from coal-fired power plants

EnvironmentIndustrial waste utilizationStatement-basedMediumStatic

Question

With reference to 'fly ash' produced by the power plants using coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.
2Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.
3Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1.

    Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction.

  2. 2.

    Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete.

  3. 3.

    Fly ash is made up of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide only, and does not contain any toxic elements.

Options

a

1 and 2

Answer
b

2 only

c

1 and 3

d

3 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct; fly ash can be used in brick production as a partial replacement for clay, improving sustainability. Statement 2 is correct; fly ash is a pozzolanic material and can replace 15-30% of Portland cement in concrete while improving some properties. Statement 3 is incorrect; fly ash contains not only silicon dioxide and calcium oxide but also contains toxic elements like heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, lead, chromium), iron oxide, and alumina. This is why safe handling and utilization practices are important. The composition varies depending on the coal source. Fly ash utilization is important for waste management. > Fly ash: Bricks ✓, Concrete substitute ✓, but contains toxic elements ✗. Answer: (a).

Question details

Year

2015

Paper

GS Paper 1

Question

Q18

Subject

Environment

Sub-topic

Industrial waste utilization

Type

Statement-based

Difficulty

Medium

Nature

Static

Source hint

NCERT Environmental Science and Industrial Practices

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