Dense ceramic tiles from recycled fly ash
Countries in the Western Balkans worked alongside the REINTRO project to find ways in which their industrial waste could be used to help in waste treatment. One innovative solution was to add fly ash from coal fired power stations to clay to produce dense ceramic tiles. The resultant product fulfilled the criteria for a whole raft of standard tests. The tiles had high mechanical strength and excellent resistance to biological and chemical corrosion. They also had a low tendency to form biofilms of microorganisms on their surface. These properties meant that the tiles were highly suited for application to a number of different challenging environments containing polluted soil and ground water. They included sewage pipes and water treatment plants. The tiles could also be used in ports and harbours as well as livestock farms, dairies, abattoirs and the fertiliser industry. The use of fly ash as a raw material for tiles has helped to preserve natural raw materials while maintaining the product's quality. This in turn leads to reduced costs and creates jobs.
