Destruction of inorganic municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash in a DC arc plasma furnace.
Due to the toxicity of dioxins, furans and heavy metals, there is a growing environmental concern on municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash in China. The purpose of this study is directed towards the volume-reduction of fly ash without any additive by thermal plasma and recycling of vitrified slag. This process uses extremely high-temperature in an oxygen-starved environment to completely decompose complex waste into very simple molecules. For developing the proper plasma processes to treat MSWI fly ash, a new crucible-type plasma furnace was built. The melting process metamorphosed fly ash to granulated slag that was less than 1/3 of the volume of the fly ash, and about 64% of the weight of the fly ash. The safety of the vitrified slag was tested. The properties of the slag were affected by the differences in the cooling methods. Water-cooled and composite-cooled slag showed more excellent resistance against the leaching of heavy metals and can be utilized as building material without toxicity problems.
Zhao
Peng
P
Applied Plasma Division, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (ASIPP), Hefei, Anhui Province, China. zp518@hotmail.com
Ni
Guohua
G
Jiang
Yiman
Y
Chen
Longwei
L
Chen
Mingzhou
M
Meng
Yuedong
Y
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002681:China; D002947:Cities; D060729:Coal Ash; D004147:Dioxins; D005663:Furans; D017745:Incineration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012449:Safety
D060729:Coal Ash; D004147:Dioxins; D005663:Furans; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon