Behaviour of metals under the conditions of roasting MSW incinerator fly ash with chlorinating agents

A total elemental analysis was performed on a municipal solid waste (MSW) fly ash sample, before and after it was treated at 1000 degrees C, to reveal the metal distribution between the volatile matter and the ash residue. Metals such as Pb, Zn, Cd, and to a lesser degree, Cr, Mn and Ni, were volatilized. Addition of chlorinating agents generally increased the volatility of certain elements. More acid resistant compounds were formed in the ash residue after the heat treatment using CaCl2 as a chlorinating agent. The efficiencies of volatilization of the metals, using Cl2 as a chlorinating agent, were generally higher compared with using CaCl2. However, CaCl2 was found to be a more selective chlorinating agent for volatilizing the heavy metals of concern, i.e., Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu. The efficiencies of volatilization of the recovered metals were approximately proportional to their standard free-energy changes (delta G(o) for the corresponding chlorination reactions.