EPA confirms fly ash’s concrete suitability, benign chemical profile

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; American Coal Ash Association, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

Five years after proposing potentially onerous regulations for coal combustion residuals (CCR) management and disposal—triggering an uproar across the concrete industry regarding ASTM C618-grade fly ash marketability—EPA has released an evaluation of recycled CCR almost certain to put lingering concerns to rest.

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Ceratech cites commercial system to match ASTM C150 product with Class C ash

Sources: Ceratech Inc., Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

By Don Marsh

A company known for packaged dry or pre-mixed concrete repair or mortar geared to specialty applications has announced a ‘carbon neutral system’ of liquid or powder agents imparting Types I–V portland cement performance characteristics in 100 percent fly ash binder mix designs.

With a green light-basked polar bear as trademark, Ceratech unveiled Ekkomaxx at the 2011 Precast Show (January 27–29, Charlotte, N.C.), noting initial testing efforts in manufactured concrete, where producers have greater control over specifications than their counterparts in ready mixed. The company is promoting the technology’s potential for rapid deployment at existing plants, with Class C fly ash charged from dedicated silo compartments and five Ekkomaxx admixtures dispensed from conventional ground or floor tanks.

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Environmentalists scoff at EPA coal ash recycling data

Sources: Environmental Integrity Project, Washington, D.C.; Earthjustice, San Francisco

By Don Marsh

Proponents of an onerous, Environmental Protection Agency-proposed rule governing disposal of utilities’ coal combustion residuals (CCR) are challenging agency officials’ $23 billion estimate of the value of concrete-grade fly ash and other marketable-CCR recycling.

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