Researchers at North Carolina A&T have developed a new way to deal with coal ash. The discovery could turn the waste into something useful and economical.
The scientists created what's called an ash composite - it's 65 percent coal ash and 35 percent polyurethane.
The result? A lightweight, inexpensive and durable product that could be used as a building material. And researchers say it's non-toxic, to boot.
NC A&T's Kunigal Shivakumar says the focus now is testing the material's market viability.
“We need to establish a pilot project," Shivakumar says. "That can be done in one year time frame in my opinion.”
Shivakumar has already presented the findings to the state and to Duke Energy.