Removal of hazardous metals from MSW fly ash – an evaluation of ash-leaching methods.
Abstract
Incineration is a commonly applied management method for municipal solid waste (MSW). However, significant amounts of potentially hazardous metal species are present in the resulting ash, and these may be leached into the environment. A common idea for cleaning the ash is to use enhanced leaching with strong mineral acids. However, due to the alkalinity of the ash, large amounts of acid are needed and this is a drawback. Therefore, this work was undertaken in order to investigate some alternative leaching media (EDTA, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and a number of organic acids) and to compare them with the usual mineral acids and water. All leaching methods gave a significant increase in ash specific surface area due to removal of soluble bulk (matrix) compounds, such as CaCO(3) and alkali metal chlorides. The use of mineral acids and EDTA mobilised many elements, especially Cu, Zn and Pb, whereas the organic acids generally were not very effective as leaching agents for metals. Leaching using NH(4)NO(3) was especially effective for the release of Cu. The results show that washing of MSW filter ash with alternative leaching agents is a possible way to remove hazardous metals from MSW fly ash.
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pH greatly reduces the leaching of amphoteric elements such as Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn.
“pH greatly reduces the leaching of amphoteric elements (e.g.Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) (Fedje et al. 2010).”
From Chemical composition of wildfire ash produced in contrasting ecosystems and its toxicity to Daphnia magna (2019) · cites this paper as Fedje et al. 2010
pH may have an indirect effect on D. magna immobilisation as pH can influence the dissolution of elements from ash into water and therefore the relative toxic potential of other ash components.
“This perhaps suggests that pH has an indirect effect on D. magna immobilisation as pH can also influence the dissolution of elements from ash into water and therefore the relative toxic potential of other ash components (Fedje et al. 2010).”
From Chemical composition of wildfire ash produced in contrasting ecosystems and its toxicity to Daphnia magna (2019) · cites this paper as Fedje et al. 2010
Low pH values encourage the leaching of oxyanion-forming (As, B, Cr, Sb and V) and cation-forming elements (Ca), and neutral pH greatly reduces the leaching of amphoteric elements (Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn).
“Low pH values, for example, encourage the leaching of oxyanion-forming (As, B, Cr, Sb and V) and cation-forming elements (Ca), and neutral pH greatly reduces the leaching of amphoteric elements (e.g.Al, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) (Fedje et al. 2010).”
From Chemical composition of wildfire ash produced in contrasting ecosystems and its toxicity to Daphnia magna (2019) · cites this paper as Fedje et al. 2010
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- Authors
- Karlfeldt Fedje, K., Ekberg, C., Skarnemark, G., & Steenari, B.-M.
- Affiliations
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Venue
- Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-01-15
- Volume
- 173
- Issue
- 1-3
- Pages
- 310-317
- ISSN
- 0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2049940800
- Cited by
- 197
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 15.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Chalmers Publication Library (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Chalmers Research (Chalmers University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Coal and Its By-products
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Landfill Environmental Impact Studies
- Keywords
- municipal solid waste incineration, fly ash, toxic metals, leaching, metal removal, EDTA, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, organic acids, mineral acids, copper, zinc, lead, ash alkalinity, specific surface area
- MeSH terms
- Acids, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, Carbon, Edetic Acid, Indicators and Reagents, Metals, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Refuse Disposal, Solubility, Solvents, Mass Spectrometry, Thermodynamics, Hazardous Substances, Incineration, Metals, Heavy, Particulate Matter, Coal Ash
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