【Special Issues: Recycling and Resourse Recovery of Inorganic Solid Wastes】
Chemical Conversion of Inorganic Waste Coal Ash into Artificial Zeolite and its Recycling as a Material for Life Environment
Teruo Henmi*
Professor, Department of Bio-resource Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Ehime University
（3-5-7 Tarumi Cho, Matsuyama, 790-8566 Japan）

Abstract
There is an increasing amount of inorganic waste, such as coal ash being released by factories and thermal power stations which are using coal and/or pulverized coal as fuel. In Japan, about 40 to 50 big thermal power stations are discharging coal ash as waste, an amount that adds up to approximately 6million tons a year. Most of the coal ash is simply discarded as solid waste. The amount of this unused waste material will continue to increase as it is expected that factories and coal thermal power plants will keep producing much more waste ash in the near future. Development of a novel technology for the treatment of coal ash is indispensable to the recycling and utilization of waste matter. A test to treat coal ash with alkali solution revealed that the ash was chemically converted to a multi-functional material, namely “artificial zeolite”, with high capabilities for ion exchange, adsorption and catalytic activity. These capabilities make it possible for artificial zeolite to be used in the application of useful materials in such varied fields as environmental improvement, agriculture, the marine industry, livestock, civil engineering and construction, urban improvement, public health and biotechnology. We are convinced that this artificial zeolite will spark a major revolution in already booming environment-related industries.

Key words: waste coal ash, artificial zeolite, recycled resources, zero-emission, sustainable society