ENVIRONMENTAL VIABILITY FOR MATERIAL DEVELOPED FROM COAL BOTTOM ASH FOR HIGHWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The increase of the quality of life of the contemporary Man also leads to the increase of the generation of energy. Many alternative sources of energy have been explored, but coal is still an important input, contributing around 29% of the world’s energy matrix, despite environmental controversies about its use. Its burning in thermal plants generates the solid bottom ash residue, a material with little application and with potential to generate environmental damages in the places where they accumulate. ! e Southern Region of Brazil is a region producing coal and the bottom ash generated in its burning is not being used, generating a large environmental liability in the courtyard of the companies producing the input. ! e present study developed with the cited residue had as objective to define a technological product for its application in the construction of highways and to find a way for the economic and environmental use of the bottom ash. As the authors consider that the goal was achieved, they understand that the importance of the present study is centered in this fact. A product with 87% bottom ash, 5% fly ash and 8% Portland cement was developed, with adequate mechanical resistance to its application on base and sub-base of road pavement, proving itself a commercial and environmentally sustainable alternative for the use of the residue. Leaching and solubilization tests indicated that the product is chemically inert according to Brazilian environmental standards.