Comparison of the composition and properties of municipal solid-waste incinerator ashes based on incinerator configuration and operation. Final report

Technical Report · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6730890

Ontiveros, J L

Disposal of municipal solid wastes(MSW) is becoming a problem nationwide. Many sanitary landfills are either closing or approaching maximum capacity. With new landfills becoming difficult to site, alternative methods must be used to reduce the volume being disposed in landfills. Incineration, through thermal destruction, reduces the volume of MSW by up to 85%. However, problems do exist with the resulting fly and bottom ashes. Metals are not destroyed by this process, but are concentrated within the ashes. A majority of the ashes fail EPA's Extraction Procedure Toxicity Test by exceeding either cadmium or lead concentration limits. The objectives of this dissertation were threefold: i) examine the physical and chemical properties of ashes; ii) determine ash composition and morphology; and iii) determine extractive behavior of cadmium, chromium, and lead in an aqueous environment. Three different incinerators, from Canada, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, burning primarily residential MSW, were chosen to determine equipment and operational effects on ash composition and extractive behavior. Supplemental combustion air provided more complete combustion. Cadmium, potassium and sodium preferentially partitioned to the fly ash with lead partitioning differently between fly and bottom ashes depending on the incinerator. Fly ash morphology and composition did not vary significantly between incinerators. The ash matrices were composed primarily of complex, multi-substituted aluminosilicates, amorphous glass, and iron oxides. CaSO/sub 4/, NaCl and KCl were the predominate species. SEM micrographs showed a variety of shapes throughout the particle ranges with crystals heavily dispersed on the surfaces.

• Research Organization: Army Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, VA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6730890
• Report Number(s): AD-A-195527/7/XAB
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Doctoral thesis
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ASHES
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
INCINERATORS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
SOLID WASTES
COMBUSTION
CADMIUM
CANADA
CHROMIUM
GLASS
HEAT RECOVERY
IRON OXIDES
LEAD
MASSACHUSETTS
METALS
MORPHOLOGY
NEW JERSEY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POTASSIUM
PROGRESS REPORT
SODIUM
SURFACES
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION
ALKALI METALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RECOVERY
FEDERAL REGION I
FEDERAL REGION II
IRON COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RECOVERY
RESIDUES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTES
320604* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)