Toxicity mitigation and solidification of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash using alkaline activated coal ash

Journal Article · Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.03.030· OSTI ID:21613002

Ivan Diaz-Loya, E ^[1]; Eklund, Sven; Joshi, Anupam R ^[2]; Kupwade-Patil, Kunal ^[1]

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1. Alternative Cementitious Binders Laboratory (ACBL), Department of Civil Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272 (United States)
2. Department of Chemistry, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272 (United States)

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Incinerator fly ash (IFA) is added to an alkali activated coal fly ash (CFA) matrix. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Means of stabilizing the incinerator ash for use in construction applications. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Concrete made from IFA, CFA and IFA-CFA mixes was chemically characterized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Environmentally friendly solution to IFA disposal by reducing its toxicity levels. - Abstract: Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration is a common and effective practice to reduce the volume of solid waste in urban areas. However, the byproduct of this process is a fly ash (IFA), which contains large quantities of toxic contaminants. The purpose of this research study was to analyze the chemical, physical and mechanical behaviors resulting from the gradual introduction of IFA to an alkaline activated coal fly ash (CFA) matrix, as a mean of stabilizing the incinerator ash for use in industrial construction applications, where human exposure potential is limited. IFA and CFA were analyzed via X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Inductive coupled plasma (ICP) to obtain a full chemical analysis of the samples, its crystallographic characteristics and a detailed count of the eight heavy metals contemplated in US Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR). The particle size distribution of IFA and CFA was also recorded. EPA's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) was followed to monitor the leachability of the contaminants before and after the activation. Also images obtained via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), before and after the activation, are presented. Concrete made from IFA, CFA and IFA-CFA mixes was subjected to a full mechanical characterization; tests include compressive strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and setting time. The leachable heavy metal contents (except for Se) were below the maximum allowable limits and in many cases even below the reporting limit. The leachable Chromium was reduced from 0.153 down to 0.0045 mg/L, Arsenic from 0.256 down to 0.132 mg/L, Selenium from 1.05 down to 0.29 mg/L, Silver from 0.011 down to .001 mg/L, Barium from 2.06 down to 0.314 mg/L and Mercury from 0.007 down to 0.001 mg/L. Although the leachable Cd exhibited an increase from 0.49 up to 0.805 mg/L and Pd from 0.002 up to 0.029 mg/L, these were well below the maximum limits of 1.00 and 5.00 mg/L, respectively.

• OSTI ID: 21613002
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Vol. 32, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2012.03.030; PII: S0956-053X(12)00141-9; Copyright (c) 2012 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
ARSENIC
BARIUM
CHROMIUM
COAL
COMPRESSION STRENGTH
CONCRETES
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
FLEXURAL STRENGTH
FLY ASH
HEAVY METALS
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
LEACHING
MERCURY
PARTICLE SIZE
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SELENIUM
SILVER
SOLID WASTES
URBAN AREAS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS
AEROSOL WASTES
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ASHES
BUILDING MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS
MICROSCOPY
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
RESIDUES
SEMIMETALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS