Mei-In Melissa Chou, Ph.D.

Coal
Earth Resources Center

Phone: 217-244-0312
E-mail: chou@isgs.illinois.edu

Major Responsibilities

• Energy and environmental science
• Process development for value-added applications of coal combustion by-products (solids and gases)
• Gas-liquid-solid reactions
• Producing and testing construction materials and fertilizers
• Coal and ash properties
• Boiler corrosion
• Soil amendments
• Carbon sequestration

Current Projects

• Manufacturing commercial brick with fly ash from Illinois coals (2000-2001)
• Commercialization of fired brick with fly ash from Illinois coals (2001-2002)

Research Interests

• Energy and environmental chemistry
• Environmental engineering
• Coal properties
• Boiler corrosion.

Professional Affiliations

• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE)

Selected Current Publications

• "Chemical and engineering properties of fired bricks containing 50 weight % of class F fly ash." 2001. Journal of Energy Sources 23:67-75.
• "Corrosivities derived from two Illinois coals with a low- and a high-Cl content under low-NOx conditions." 2001. Proceedings. The 26^th International Technical Conference on Coal Utilization & Fuel System. Clearwater, FL.
• "Manufacture of ammonium sulfate fertilizer from FGD-gypsum." 2000. Poster. Illinois Basin Coal Symposium. Indianapolis, IN.
• "A comparative study on the corrosivities derived from a British coal and an Illinois coal both with a high-Cl content." 2000. Journal of Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 64, Nos. 1-3, pp. 167-176.
• "Producing fired-brick containing 20 to 40% class F fly-ash." 2000. The 16th International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management. Philadelphia, PA.
• "Effects of chlorine in coal on boiler superheater/reheater corrosion." 1999. Preprints. The ACS Annual Meeting, Fuel Chemistry Division. Anaheim, CA.

Web links to research by M. Chou

• Fly-ash bricks pass commercial tests - A new method of manufacturing stronger bricks is moving closer to commercial reality. These bricks, which have better insulating properties than traditionally produced bricks, are manufactured from a solid waste produced by Illinois coal-burning power plants.
• Several companies test bricks made with fly ash - With help from ISGS researchers, several brick companies are conducting tests of full-scale production of bricks made with fly ash.
• Making bricks using coal fly ash - A new brick manufacturing method using coal combustioin waste may soon benefit the Illinois coal industry, the brick industry, and Illinois utilities using coal. Research scientists at the ISGS have completed studies on the technical feasibility of producing fired bricks containing high volumes of Illinois class F fly ash. Preliminary economic studies have been conducted.
• Future building blocks - Monday, July 28, 2003, The News-Gazette; Coal ash, a waste product now, may be poised to become a highquality building product in the form of bricks and concrete blocks in the wake of work by local researchers.
• Bricks may be profitable solution to coal problem - December 27, 2001, The News-Gazette

Updated 8/24/2009 SLD