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MSWI boiler fly ashes: magnetic separation for material recovery
Aurore De Boom1, Marc Degrez, Paul Hubaux
1Chemicals and Materials Department, U.L.B., Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP165/63, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. adeboom@ulb.ac.be
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|February 11, 2011
Summary
Magnetic separation can extract magnetic particles from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) boiler fly ash (BFA). However, this method is only economically viable for large-scale operations and may require complementary treatments for optimal results.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Materials Science
Background:
- Ferrous materials are typically recovered from MSWI bottom ash using magnetic separation.
- The application of magnetic separation to other MSWI residues, such as boiler fly ash (BFA), remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying magnetic separation to recover magnetic particles from BFA.
- To analyze the composition and leaching behavior of magnetic and non-magnetic fractions of BFA.
- To evaluate the economic viability of magnetic separation for BFA treatment.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic separation using various magnet types to extract magnetic particles from BFA.
- Chemical analysis of magnetic and non-magnetic fractions to determine elemental composition.
- Leaching tests (EN 12457-1) to assess the environmental behavior of the fractions.
- Pilot-scale magnetic separation simulating industrial conditions.
- Economic assessment of the magnetic separation process.
Main Results:
- Magnetic separation successfully extracted magnetic particles from BFA, though they constituted a small fraction (23-120 g/kg).
- The extracted magnetic particles showed higher concentrations of Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni compared to the non-magnetic fraction.
- Magnetic separation did not enhance the leachability of the non-magnetic fraction.
- Pilot-scale tests confirmed the applicability under simulated industrial conditions.
Conclusions:
- Magnetic separation is a technically feasible method for extracting magnetic particles from MSWI boiler fly ash.
- The economic profitability of industrial-scale magnetic separation for BFA is contingent upon treating substantial ash volumes (over 15 kt/year).
- Integrating magnetic separation with other recovery or advanced treatment methods may be necessary for comprehensive BFA valorization.
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