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Poultry litter ash characterisation and recovery.
Ario Fahimi1, Fabjola Bilo1, Ahmad Assi1
1INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|May 29, 2020
Summary
Poultry litter ash effectively stabilizes heavy metals like lead and zinc when combined with municipal solid waste incineration ashes. This novel approach immobilizes metals through calcium and phosphorus-based reactions, meeting European waste disposal regulations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Materials Science
Background:
- Poultry litter ash is a potential waste material.
- Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) ashes are often combined with coal combustion flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) residues.
- Heavy metal stabilization is crucial for safe waste disposal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize poultry litter ash.
- To investigate its potential as a heavy metal stabilizer.
- To propose a novel method combining poultry litter ash with MSWI ashes.
Main Methods:
- Characterization using total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX).
- Comparison of elemental concentrations in leaching solutions of raw and stabilized materials.
- Assessment of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) solubility.
Main Results:
- Poultry litter ash is rich in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S).
- It contains significant amorphous and soluble phases.
- Leachable Pb and Zn concentrations in stabilized materials were below European regulatory limits after two months.
Conclusions:
- Poultry litter ash is an effective secondary material for heavy metal stabilization.
- Immobilization occurs via carbonation and P- and Ca-based reactive amorphous phases.
- This method offers a viable alternative for managing heavy metals in waste streams.
