Form of the Occurrence of Aluminium in Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Residue—Even Hydrogen Is Lost

Marek Michalik (), Monika Kasina, Bartłomiej Kajdas and Piotr Kowalski
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Marek Michalik: Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Monika Kasina: Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Bartłomiej Kajdas: Nature Education Centre of the Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 5, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
Piotr Kowalski: Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3a, 30-387 Kraków, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: In the bottom ash (BA) of municipal solid waste incineration, the content of iron and aluminum is relatively high. The efficiency of eddy current extraction of non-ferrous metals (including aluminium) routinely used in incineration plants is limited. The determination of the form of occurrence of aluminium or aluminium-rich components in BA is important in terms of its recovery or utilisation. BA from a newly built incineration plant in Poland was analysed using chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with chemical microanalysis. Samples of water-quenched BA were analysed. For comparison, a non-quenched sample (collected above a water tank) was analysed. The obtained results indicate that aluminium-rich components in BA are present in both the melt phase and quench phase. In the melt phase (glassy material), the content of aluminium is low (usually below 2 wt%). Aluminium-rich components present in glass, inherited after aluminium products are usually oxidised, and occur as platy or irregular forms. Aluminium components in the quench phase are significantly transformed with the common presence of Cl − and SO 4 2− phases formed during reaction with the quench water. Secondary phases form simple or complex rims around metallic or slightly oxidised cores, of which the size is significantly reduced during transformations. The variety in the forms of aluminium occurrence in BA makes its recovery challenging and inefficient. The reduced content of metallic aluminium indicates that the potential for hydrogen generation of BA is low.

Keywords: municipal solid waste incineration; bottom ash; aluminium recovery; hydrogen generation (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: 2022
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