Characterization of Cenospheres from Malaysian Coal Generated Power Plants: Jimah, Kapar and Manjung
Authors:   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Beddu Salmia , Abd Manan Teh Sabariah ,   Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia, Mohd Zainoodin Mahyun ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Mohd Kamal Nur Liyana ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Machmudah Affiani ,   Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidisciplinary, Universitas Airlangga, Jalan Mulyorejo, Kampus C, Surabaya, East Java, 60115, Indonesia, Yavari Saba ,   Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia, Mohamad Daud ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Itam Zarina ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Syamsir Agusril ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Mohamed Nazri Fadzli ,   School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia, Min Yee Hooi ,   School of Civil Engineering, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Kampus Perma-tang Pauh, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, Ahmad Zailani Warid Wazien ,   School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Mohd Yapandi Md Fauzan Kamal ,   Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Che Muda Zakaria ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Jalan Ikram-Uniten, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, Ghanim Abdulnoor A.J. ,   Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Najran University ,Najran 61441, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Isa Mohamed Hasnain ,   Civil Engineering Programme, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Tungku Highway, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam, Shafiq Nasir ,   Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia, Ahmad Amirrudin ,   Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia, Wan Rasdi Nadiah ,   Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
Published: December 2022

Cenosphere is a component of fly ash (FA) and has been used as part of sustainable material in wastewater treatment, automotive, ceramic, and construction industries due to its properties. This research presents the first study on characterization of cenospheres from Malaysian power plants namely Jimah, Kapar and Manjung. The characterization was conducted via X-ray fluorescence (XRF), particle size analyzer (PSA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRF analysis consisted of oxides elements ranged from 14.70 to 22.63% (aluminum oxide, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), 3.78 to 13.44% (calcium oxide, CaO), 34.73 to 57.67% (silicon dioxide, SiO<sub>2</sub>), 0.42 to 1.07% (sulphur trioxide, SO<sub>3</sub>), 9.09 to 24.92% (iron oxide, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), 3.62 to 3.67% (potassium oxide, K<sub>2</sub>O), 1.76 to 4.24% (titanium oxide, TiO<sub>2</sub>) and 0.16 to 0.93% (magnesium oxide, MgO). The classifications of cementitious materials by American Standard of Testing Materials were Class F (Jimah, Kapar) and Class C (Manjung). The classification represents the quality and capability of cementitious materials as cement replacement material, additive, and filler in concrete mix. The sizes of cenospheres were Kapar > Jimah > Manjung. The sizes of cenosphere were found to be larger than FA (Jimah: 2.720-49.21 μm, Kapar: 5.069-98.29 μm, Manjung: 1.084-3.986 μm). Cenospheres contained quarts (Jimah, Kapar, Manjung: 26°) and silicates (Kapar, Manjung: 45°). Ferrospheres, cenospheres, aluminosilicate-spheres, plerospheres and carbon fragments were observed. The cenosphere from Manjung showed high quality as cement replacement material, additive, and filler with 13.44% of CaO.