Research Projects

The project aims to reduce coal combustion ash (CCA) landfilling, assess the use of Odisha state CCA as a secondary source of rare earth elements, valorize CCA for recycling through char unburned carbon, and use CCA ferrospheres in water pollutants reduction and biofuel production. It also aims to valorize CCA for high-quality bricks and ceramics making by using different size-fractions CCA free of char and ferrospheres. The project also aims to promote environmental solutions, such as the substitution of critical metals-bearing rocks for green energy, the recovery of natural graphite, and the substitution of clay for high-quality bricks and ceramics. Unburnt carbon char from CCA and CBA is ideal for mercury adsorption and activated carbon applications. It has a high degree of turbostatic structural order and a lamellar microtexture, making it a potential precursor for graphitized carbon suitable for green energy applications. Char-based materials are promising for electrocatalysis, nitroarene reduction, and alkyl-levulinate production. Functionalized fly ash can be used as a sustainable catalyst for these applications. India needs an aluminosilicate secondary source for bricks and ceramics.