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Published on: May 16, 2016
Belgian MSWI fly ashes and APC residues: a characterisation study
1Chemicals and Materials Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, CP165/63, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. adeboom@ulb.ac.be
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|January 17, 2012
Summary
Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) generates fly ashes and Air Pollution Control (APC) residues. Analyzing these separately reveals distinct compositions and leaching behaviors, suggesting tailored management strategies are beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) produces various residues, including fly ashes and Air Pollution Control (APC) residues.
- Currently, these residues are often combined and managed as a single waste stream.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the compositional differences between fly ashes and APC residues from Belgian MSWI plants.
- To evaluate the impact of these differences on heavy metal leaching.
Main Methods:
- Separate sampling of fly ashes and APC residues from Belgian MSWI plants.
- X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis to determine elemental composition.
- Leaching tests to assess heavy metal mobility.
Main Results:
- Calcium (Ca) and Chlorine (Cl) were identified as major elements in most samples.
- Lithophilic elements like Aluminum (Al) and Silicon (Si) were more abundant in furnace and boiler ashes.
- Leachates from furnace/boiler ashes were alkaline, while bag filter residue leachates had a pH of 6, affecting lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) leaching.
Conclusions:
- Significant compositional and leaching differences exist between fly ashes and APC residues.
- Separate management of these residues, tailored to their specific properties, could be advantageous.
- This approach may optimize waste treatment and resource recovery from MSWI residues.
