Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010MD209B

Leaching of Heavy Metals from High Carbon Fly Ash--Stabilized Soils in Highway Embankments

Institute: Maryland
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2009-01-01 End Date: 2010-03-01
Total Federal Funds: $6,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $15,000

Principal Investigators: Allen Davis, Ahmet Aydilek

Abstract: Fly ashes produced by several power plants in United States occasionally contain significant amounts of unburned carbon due to common use of low nitrogen-oxide and sulphur-oxide burners in recent years, and these fly ashes are being landfilled at large percentages. A study will be conducted to evaluate the leaching potential of embankment soils mixed with high carbon fly ashes and the potential groundwater impacts through a combination of column tests and computer modeling. The findings of the proposed study are expected to increase beneficial reuse of fly ashes while promoting sustainability in highway construction.