Repurposing Fly Ash Derived from Biomass Combustion in Fluidized Bed Boilers in Large Energy Power Plants as a Mineral Soil Amendment

Elżbieta Jarosz-Krzemińska and Joanna Poluszyńska
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Elżbieta Jarosz-Krzemińska: Department of Environmental Protection, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Joanna Poluszyńska: Łukasiewicz Research Network—Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Oświęcimska Street 21, 45-641 Opole, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-21

Abstract: This research involved studying the physico-chemical parameters of fly ash derived from the combustion of 100% biomass in bubbling and circulating fluidized bed boilers of two large energy plants in Poland. Chemical composition revealed that ash contains substantial amounts of CaO (12.86–26.5%); K 2 O (6.2–8.25%); MgO (2.97–4.06%); P 2 O 5 (2–4.63%); S (1.6–1.83%); and micronutrients such as Mn, Zn, Cu, and Co. The ash from the bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) was richer in potassium, phosphorus, CaO, and micronutrients than the ash from the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) and contained cumulatively less contaminants. However, the BFB ash exceeded the threshold values of Cd to be considered as a liming amendment. Additionally, according to our European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) study Pb and Cd were more mobile in the BFB than in the CFB ash. Except for a low nitrogen content, the ash met the minimum requirements for mineral fertilizers. Acute phytotoxicity revealed no inhibition of the germination and seed growth of Avena sativa L. and Lepidium sativum plants amended with biomass ash. Despite the fact that low nitrogen content excludes the use of biomass fly ash as a sole mineral fertilizer, it still possesses other favorable properties (a high content of CaO and macronutrients), which warrants further investigation into its potential utilization.

Keywords: fly ash; biomass combustion; fluidized bed boilers; acute phytotoxicity test; mineral fertilizer; BCR sequential extraction; metal speciation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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