Valorization of MSWI Bottom Ash as a Function of Particle Size Distribution, Using Steam Washing

Enrico Destefanis, Caterina Caviglia, Davide Bernasconi, Erica Bicchi, Renato Boero, Costanza Bonadiman, Giorgia Confalonieri, Ingrid Corazzari, Giuseppe Mandrone, Linda Pastero, Alessandro Pavese, Francesco Turci and Quentin Wehrung
Additional contact information
Enrico Destefanis: Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Caterina Caviglia: Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Davide Bernasconi: Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Erica Bicchi: ESAIP Engineer School, 49124 Saint-Barthélemy d’Anjou, France
Renato Boero: IREN S.p.A., 10143 Turin, Italy
Costanza Bonadiman: Earth Science and Physics Department, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
Giorgia Confalonieri: Chemical and Geological Science Department, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Ingrid Corazzari: Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Giuseppe Mandrone: Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, 10125 Turin, Italy
Linda Pastero: Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Alessandro Pavese: Earth Sciences Department, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Francesco Turci: Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
Quentin Wehrung: ESAIP Engineer School, 49124 Saint-Barthélemy d’Anjou, France

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: Treatments to reduce the leaching of contaminants (chloride, sulfate, heavy metals) into the environment from bottom ash (BA) are investigated, as a function of the ash’s particle size ( s ). The aim is to make BA suitable for reuse as secondary raw material, in accordance with the legal requirements. Such treatments must be economically feasible and, possibly, have to use by-products of the plant (in this case, steam in excess from the turbine). For the sake of completeness and comparison, carbonation is performed on those BA particle size classes that are not positively responsive to steam washing. BA is partitioned into four different particle size classes ( s ≥ 4.75, 4.75 > s ≥ 2, 2 > s ≥ 1 and s < 1 mm, corresponding to 36, 24, 13 and 27 wt%, respectively). In the case of s ≥ 2 mm (60 wt%), steam washing is effective in reducing to under the legal limits the leaching of chlorides, sulfate and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb). It has been observed that steam washing causes both removal and dissolution of thin dust adherent to the BA’s surface. BA with 2 > s ≥ 1 (~13 wt% of total BA) requires a combination of steam washing and carbonation to achieve a leaching below the legal limits. The finest BA fraction, s < 1 mm (~27 wt% of total BA), is treated by carbonation, which reduces heavy metals leaching by 85%, but it fails to sufficiently curb chlorides and sulfates.

Keywords: MSWI bottom ash; particle size; steam washing; carbonation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/22/9461/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/22/9461/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9461-:d:444706

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().