Laboratory leaching of environmentally sensitive trace elements from fly ash and bottom ash samples
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States); and others
In an effort to determine the mode of occurrence of environmentally sensitive elements, samples of fly ash and bottom ash were collected from an electric utility power plant burning high sulfur (3.3 wt % total S) and low-sulfur (0.9 wt % total S) coal. These samples were subjected to sequential leaching (agitated for 18 hours at room temperature) with 1N ammonium acetate, 2N HCl, 48 to 51% HF, and 1.5N HNO{sub 3}. The residues were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Preliminary data for the fly ash samples indicate that most of the As is extracted by HCl; most of the Co, Cr, Ni, Sb, U (data for one sample), and Zn are extracted by HF; Se (data for one sample) is extracted in subequal amounts by all solvents; and Th was extracted by HNO{sub 3} and HF. The data indicate that As was extracted by HCl and HF from the low-sulfur coal bottom ash and predominately by HF from the high-sulfur coal bottom ash. HF extracted Co, Cr, Ni, Sb, and Zn from both bottom ash samples. U and Th are partially extracted by HF and HNO{sub 3} from both bottom ash samples. Thus, substantial proportions of As and possibly Se occur in forms other than the predominant glasses, crystalline silicates, and oxides in the fly ash and bottom ash samples.
- OSTI ID:
- 214742
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950801--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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