Detection of Organic Materials in Fly Ash by Chromatographic Method

Fly ash, a by-product from coal based power plants is composed of totally inorganic and inert substances and is unsupportive for life forms. Fly ash in Korba is dumped into special open embankments called dykes. The search for organic materials was important because formation of humus is a revolution in fly ash, then only it will be able to support life forms. This was done in these dykes to confirm the source of organic materials in fly ash, i.e., whether they are coming from the coal, the start up oil of the furnace or from the animals and plants coming up in the area. The method used was thin layer chromatography and ascending paper chromatography in liquid medium.