Needham, Mass.-based Separation Technologies Inc. opened a processing line at the JEA power plant in Jacksonville, Fla., with potential capacity reaching 200,000 tpy of concrete-grade fly ash. STI's patented process separates the unwanted carbon material from raw fly ash to provide a consistent, higher quality fly ash supply for concrete manufacturers, who use it to replace a portion of the cement in concrete mixes.

Additionally, the installation is the first to incorporate a proprietary ammonia removal process STI has developed to address what for concrete users is a negative byproduct of utilities' Clean Air Act compliance measures. Ammonia can be imparted in fly ash as a result of scrubbers some utilities have installed to curtail nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from combustion of high-sulphur coal. In turn, off-gassing of ammoniated in concrete-grade ash can occur in slab placement and finishing.

STI is part of Norfolk, Va.-based Titan America, whose businesses span Tarmac ready mixed and concrete block operations, along with extensive cement production and distribution, from Virginia to Florida. The JEA installation joins STI-equipped plants in Massachusetts, Maryland, and North Carolina, plus Scotland.