Recycling Coal Ash 'Jeohui'... Increase in Patent Applications for Eco-Friendly New Material Development

Graph showing the annual number of patent applications related to recycling by our company from 2010 to 2019 (a total of 484 cases). Provided by the Korean Intellectual Property Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Cases of recycling bottom ash, a type of coal ash, into eco-friendly new materials and filing patents are increasing.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on the 30th, coal ash is largely divided into fly ash and bottom ash. Among these, fly ash is recycled as raw materials for cement and concrete, but bottom ash, which contains harmful substances such as chlorine, has not been recycled and has mostly been landfilled at ash disposal facilities.

In particular, more than 1 million tons of bottom ash are generated annually (1.4 million tons as of 2015), and its landfill disposal has caused environmental pollution controversies and complaints.

However, recently, as part of the government's recycling promotion policy, technologies have been developed to use bottom ash as raw materials for concrete admixtures or insulation materials, expanding the potential for bottom ash to be utilized as a high value-added eco-friendly new material.

Along with related technology development, patent applications have also become active. In fact, from 2017 to 2019, patent applications related to bottom ash recycling averaged 56 cases per year, a 24% increase compared to the average of 45 cases per year from 2014 to 2016. KIPO attributes the increase in patent applications for bottom ash recycling technologies to the government's policy encouragement of coal ash recycling following the enactment of the Resource Circulation Basic Act by the National Assembly in 2016.

Examining a total of 484 patent applications related to bottom ash recycling from 2010 to 2019 by technology, the distribution was ▲ lightweight aggregate use 158 cases (33%) ▲ concrete and cement use (concrete admixtures, secondary cement product raw materials, etc.) 151 cases (31%) ▲ aggregate use for embankment, backfill, road, drainage layer 37 cases (8%) ▲ topsoil fertilizer raw material use 33 cases (7%) ▲ raw material use for ceramic materials and insulation materials 31 cases (6%), among others.

By application, patent applications for concrete admixtures such as ready-mixed concrete and raw materials for ceramic materials and insulation materials notably increased. KIPO explained that this is because attempts to utilize bottom ash for high value-added purposes rather than simple landfill embankment have become active.

The share of patent applicants was ▲ small and medium-sized enterprises 234 cases (48%) ▲ individuals 98 cases (20%) ▲ universities 52 cases (11%) ▲ public enterprises 32 cases (7%), with foreigners accounting for a relatively small share of 13 cases (3%). This suggests that industrial byproduct processing is mainly carried out by domestic small and micro enterprises, and the transportation of coal bottom ash is difficult, making it hard for foreign companies to enter the market.

Son Chang-ho, Head of the Basic Materials Chemistry Examination Division at KIPO, said, “Coal bottom ash, which was previously discarded without much consideration, is expected to contribute to resource circulation by replacing natural aggregates such as sand and gravel in the future,” adding, “We hope that domestic companies will create eco-friendly new materials using bottom ash, secure intellectual property rights for them, and gain competitiveness in new value-added markets.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.