TPU Scientists Patent a Composition to Reduce Coal-Fired Power Plant Ash Dusting by 95%

Specialists from Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed and patented a new composition based on cryogel that prevents ash from weathering from the surface of coal-fired power plant ash dumps. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the innovation reduces dusting by up to 95%.

Ash dumps are formed during the operation of thermal power plants and industrial enterprises that use solid fuel. Wind raises ash particles, which leads to air, soil, and water pollution. Existing methods of dust control can hardly be called optimal: they are either not effective enough, or economically and technically costly.

The cryogel created at TPU is an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with a concentration of 2.5 to 10%. It is evenly applied to the surface during periods when the average daily temperature fluctuates around zero degrees. As a result, an elastic shell is formed that reliably binds ash particles and prevents their spread into the environment.

Studies have shown that the coating is capable of retaining up to 95% of ash. The technology is already being tested at the ash dump of "TGK-11" company.

The development will significantly reduce the harmful impact of coal energy on the environment, improve air quality, and reduce health risks for people living near thermal power plants. In particular, this is relevant for the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where most thermal power plants are heated by coal.

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