Tom Robl's research focuses on several applied aspects:

* Beneficiation of ponded coal combustion waste at power plants

* Development of recovery techniques resulting in materials appropriate for use as fillers, pozzolans, and lightweight aggregates, as well as carbon suitable for reburning

* Beneficiation of IGCC slag

* Investigation into the presence of mercury, arsenic, and other trace elements in coal combustion by-products, and their quantitative relationship to combustion processes and the source coal itself

* Use of ammoniated fly ash in concrete products

Hower, J.C.; Robl, T.L.; Anderson, C; Thomas, G.A.; Sakulpitakphon, T.; Mardon, S.M.; Clark, W.L., 2005, Characteristics of coal combustion products (CCP's) from Kentucky power plants, with emphasis on mercury content, Fuel, v. 84, p. 1338-1350.

Rubel, A.; Andrews, R.; Gonzalez, R.; Groppo, J.; Robl, T., 2005, Adsorption of Hg and NOX on coal by-products, Fuel, v. 84, p. 911-916.

Groppo, J.; Robl, T.; Hower, J.C., 2004, The Beneficiation of Coal Combustion Ash. Energy, Waste, and the Environment - A Geochemical Perspective, (Giere, R.; Stille, P., eds.), The Geological Society of London, , Special Publication 236, p. 247-262.

Groppo, J.; Robl, T.; Hower, J.C., 2004, The Beneficiation of Coal Combustion Ash. Energy, Waste, and The Environment - A Geochemical Perspective, (Giere, R.; Stille, P., eds.), The Geological Society of London, Special Publication 236, p. 247-262.

Tyra, M.A.; Groppo, J.G.; Robl, T.L.; Minster, T., 2003, Using Digital Mapping Techniques to Evaluate Beneficiation Potential in a Coal Ash Pond, International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 54, p. 261-268.

Foner, H.A.; Robl, T.L.; Hower, J.C.; Graham, U.M., 1999, Characterization of fly ash from Israel with reference to its possible utilization, Fuel, v. 78, p. 215-223.

Foner, H.A.; Robl, T.L.; Hower, J.C.; Graham, U.M., 1999, Some characteristics and potential uses of coal fly ash from Israel, Fuel, v. 78, p. 215-223.