With reference to ‘fly ash’ produced by the power plants using the coal as fuel, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Fly ash can be used in the production of bricks for building construction
- Fly ash can be used as a replacement for some of the Portland cement contents of concrete
- Fly 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
Correct Answer: Option A
Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal in power plants.
Statement 1 is correct: Fly ash can be used in brick production, improving their quality and reducing the need for clay.
Statement 2 is correct: Fly ash can replace a portion of Portland cement in concrete, enhancing its durability and workability.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While fly ash primarily consists of silicon dioxide and calcium oxide, it also contains trace amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, mercury, and lead. The exact composition varies depending on the source coal.
Hence, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.