Characterization of ash residues from 15 waste-to-energy facilities pursuant to the May, 1994 U.S. EPA ``Sampling and analysis of municipal refuse incineration ash`` guidance document

Conference · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:495369

Berry, J; Lyons, M ^[1]

---

1. Wheelabrator Environmental Systems Inc., Hampton, NH (United States)

Wheelabrator Environmental Systems Inc. (Wheelabrator) currently owns and/or operates 21 power plants, 15 of which are municipal waste combustion (MWC) facilities. In response to a May, 1994 US Supreme Court decision, all MWC facilities are required by the US Environmental Protection (EPA) to determine if the facility ash residues are hazardous waste. This paper presents the results of ash characterizations done at Wheelabrator MWC facilities. All Wheelabrator MWC facilities are equipped with WES-PHix{reg_sign} ash stabilization systems. The ash from these facilities consistently yields test results well below regulatory thresholds. However, installing a state-of-the-art ash stabilization system does not guarantee that ash is accurately characterized. Proper sampling protocols and proper analytical technique are critical to insuring accurate characterization. This paper identifies typical issues encountered during sample collection, sample preparation, an toxicity test extraction procedures. The consistently low toxicity test results for ash from Wheelabrator facilities can be attributed to the effectiveness of the WES-PHix{reg_sign} ash stabilization process. The sample collection protocols developed by Wheelabrator, and proper toxicity test extraction and analytical procedures followed by the laboratories, ensure accurate characterization.

• OSTI ID: 495369
• Report Number(s): CONF-9504119--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ASHES
BIOASSAY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
INCINERATORS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
SAMPLE PREPARATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT