Assessment of the Solid Waste Disposal from Yata?an Power Plant in T?rkiye

The aims of this study were characterization of fly ash samples through mineralogical and chemical composition, determination of heavy concentrations for better environmental sustainability. Coal fly ash, by-product of the combustion of coal, contains heavy metals like Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, and Zn.  The disposal of coal fly ash to the landfill may harm the environment due to the toxicity of heavy metals entering into water or groundwater.

The laboratory experimental results indicate that the fly ash contains hazardous metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn with a concentration higher than the permissible concentration of waste disposal. Mineralogical analysis showed the presence of quartz (SiO2), albite (NaAlSi3O8), anhydrite (CaSO4), gehlenite (Ca2Al[AlSiO7]), lime (CaO), and hematite (Fe2O3), with quartz being the principal mineral. The fine particle size and alkaline pH of the fly ash enhance the leaching potential of heavy metals when exposed to water and atmospheric conditions, which may contribute to soil and groundwater contamination.