Thermal and hydrometallurgical recovery methods of heavy metals from municipal solid waste fly ash

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2013.05.022· OSTI ID:22300318

Langová, Š. ^[1]; Nowak, B.; Winter, F. ^[2]

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1. VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 15/2172, 708 33 Ostrava (Czech Republic)
2. Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/166, A-1060 Vienna (Austria)

Highlights: • MSW fly ash was thermally and hydrometallurgically treated to remove heavy metals. • More than 90% of easy volatile heavy metals (Cd and Pb) were removed thermally. • More than 90% of Cd, Cr, Cu an Zn were removed by alkaline – acid leaching. • The best results were obtained for the solution of 3 M NaOH and 2 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4}. - Abstract: Heavy metals in fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators are present in high concentrations. Therefore fly ash must be treated as a hazardous material. On the other hand, it may be a potential source of heavy metals. Zinc, lead, cadmium, and copper can be relatively easily removed during the thermal treatment of fly ash, e.g. in the form of chlorides. In return, wet extraction methods could provide promising results for these elements including chromium and nickel. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare thermal and hydrometallurgical treatment of municipal solid waste fly ash. Thermal treatment of fly ash was performed in a rotary reactor at temperatures between 950 and 1050 °C and in a muffle oven at temperatures from 500 to 1200 °C. The removal more than 90% was reached by easy volatile heavy metals such as cadmium and lead and also by copper, however at higher temperature in the muffle oven. The alkaline (sodium hydroxide) and acid (sulphuric acid) leaching of the fly ash was carried out while the influence of temperature, time, concentration, and liquid/solid ratio were investigated. The combination of alkaline-acidic leaching enhanced the removal of, namely, zinc, chromium and nickel.

• OSTI ID: 22300318
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 33, Issue 11; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CADMIUM
CHLORIDES
CHROMIUM
CONCENTRATION RATIO
COPPER
FLY ASH
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEAVY METALS
HYDROMETALLURGY
LEAD
NICKEL
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SOLID WASTES
SOLUTIONS
SULFURIC ACID
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TIME DEPENDENCE
VOLATILITY
ZINC