A novel combined process for enhancing soluble salt recovery and reducing pollutant diffusion in municipal solid waste incineration fly ash

Xiaofan Huang, Lei Wang*, Xiaotao Bi, Dahai Yan, Jonathan W.C. Wong, Yuezhao Zhu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

There is a limited body of research on the recovery of soluble salts from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI-FA), with challenges stemming from the effective management of residual heavy metals and dioxins. In this investigation, we propose using water-washing treatment for fly ash dechlorination and using CO2 aeration carbonation combined with ceramic membrane filtration to recover soluble salt resources from fly ash. This study investigated the impact of combined processes on fly ash soluble salt recovery, carbon dioxide capture and sequestration, heavy metal removal, and dioxin diffusion reduction. The findings revealed that the combined process can significantly enhance the rate of carbonation and the removal of heavy metals. Specifically, the removal rates of Pb and Zn reach 100%. The resulting CaCO3 precipitation particle size is smaller, averaging only approximately 4 μm, with greater surface porosity, higher heavy metal and dioxin content, and dioxin toxic equivalents as high as 8.11 ng TEQ/kg. Moreover, the dioxin content in the recovered mixed salt decreased, and its dioxin toxic equivalent was only 3.228.11 ng TEQ/kg. Consequently, the combined process of CO2 aeration combined with ceramic membrane filtration was used in conjunction to significantly reduce pollutants (heavy metals and dioxins) in the MSWI-FA recovered salt. This approach enhances the recyclable resource utilization of MSWI-FA and reduces the risk of pollution dispersal during MSWI-FA disposal and resource utilization.

Original languageEnglish
Article number141892
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Cleaner Production
Volume450
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2024

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Environmental Science
  • Strategy and Management
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

User-Defined Keywords

  • Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash
  • Carbonation combined process
  • Heavy metal removal
  • Dioxin diffusion interception
  • Soluble salt recovery
  • Resource recycling and sustainable development

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