Distributions of and environmental risks posed by Cr and Zn when co-treating solid waste in different kilns

In order to dispose solid waste reasonably and provide reference data for solid waste co-treatment in industrial kilns, coal chemical products were co-treated in a pulverized coal furnace and refuse-derived fuel was co-treated in a gasifier-coupled pulverized coal furnace system. The distribution and environmental risks of Cr and Zn in different kilns were compared and analyzed. The Cr and Zn distributions in the solid products from the pulverized coal furnace tests were similar. Fly ash contained > 80% of the Cr and Zn. In the gasifier, cyclone dust and gasification gas contained only ∼ 60% of the Cr and Zn, and gasification slag contained > 40% of the Cr and Zn. The gasification gas contained ∼ 33% of the Cr and Zn volatilized. The pulverized coal furnace temperature was > 1,500 °C. Most of the Cr and Zn volatilized and then condensed, so became enriched in the fly ash. The gasifier temperature was ∼ 750 °C, so less volatilization occurred and Cr and Zn became enriched in the gasification slag. The Cr and Zn concentrations in leachates of the solid products were lower than the limits of "GB 5085.3-2007". However, the Cr and Zn concentrations in the gasification slag and cyclone dust leachates were close to the limits and tens to hundreds of times higher than the concentrations in the pulverized coal furnace fly ash and slag leachates. The low temperatures and low-oxygen environments of gasifiers are not conducive to heavy metals being stable in the solid products, and the environmental risks posed by heavy metals in the solid products are high. The risks to the environment are less serious for co-treating solid waste in pulverized coal furnaces than gasifiers.