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Superparamagnetic iron oxides nanoparticles from municipal solid waste incinerators.
V Funari1, L Mantovani2, L Vigliotti3
1Instituto di Scienze Marine, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISMAR-CNR), Bologna, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
The Science of the Total Environment
|December 3, 2017
Summary
Incinerator ashes contain magnetic nanoparticles, including harmful superparamagnetic (SP) ones. Safer ash management and environmental impact assessments require advanced detection methods.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Municipal solid waste incineration produces bottom ash (BA) and fly ash (FA).
- These ashes can release iron-bearing, ultrafine particles into the environment.
- Superparamagnetic (SP) nanoparticles pose potential environmental risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the magnetic mineralogy of BA and FA from Italian incinerators.
- To quantify the fraction of harmful superparamagnetic (SP) nanoparticles (diameter < 30 nm).
- To assess the environmental implications of magnetic particle release.
Main Methods:
- X-ray diffraction (XRD)
- Electron microscopy (EM)
- Temperature- and frequency-dependent magnetometry
- Mossbauer spectroscopy
Main Results:
- Magnetite and its impure forms are the dominant magnetic carriers.
- Monoclinic pyrrhotite is identified as a significant ancillary magnetic phase.
- The flux of SP nanoparticles from a single incinerator was estimated at 10^3 tons/year.
Conclusions:
- Integrated analysis of magnetic and non-magnetic data is crucial.
- Current technologies need calibration for safer combustion ash management.
- Environmental impact assessments should incorporate detailed magnetic analyses.
