Plasma torch burns bright for fly-ash vitrification
Municipal solid waste incineration generates two main kinds of residues--bottom ash and fly ash. Bottom ash usually is nontoxic and can be disposed in nontoxic waste landfills or, as in France, used as road aggregates after passing toxicity characteristic leaching procedures tests. Fly ash consists of fine particles separated from exhaust gases in incinerator-gas cleaning systems. Fly ash generally contains heavy metals (such as lead, cadmium and mercury) and semivolatile organic compounds. These toxics are readily leachable and will pollute groundwater if carelessly disposed in landfills. Fly-ash storage regulations in Europe have become increasingly restrictive. For example, since December 1992, fly ash in France must be landfilled in special ''final waste storage centers.'' These new regulations and difficulties associated with opening new storage centers have resulted in a sharp rise in dumping costs. In this context, new treatment processes are being developed that eventually will enhance the value of the end-product. Vitrification yields the best results of all processing methods, because the end-product is chemically inert.
- OSTI ID:
- 6654540
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Solutions; (United States), Vol. 7:12
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CADMIUM
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
FLY ASH
VITRIFICATION
LEAD
MERCURY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
SOLID WASTES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
AEROSOL WASTES
ASHES
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
ELEMENTS
METALS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
REGULATIONS
RESIDUES
WASTES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)