Waste Wood Fly Ash Treatment in Switzerland—Effects of Co-Processing with Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste on Cr(VI) Reduction and Heavy Metal Recovery

• Main Authors: Mirjam Wolffers, Gisela Weibel, Urs Eggenberger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: wood ash treatment; MSWI fly ash; heavy metal recovery; acid leaching; chromate reduction; hot alkaline extraction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/1/146

In Switzerland, waste wood fly ash (WWFA) must be treated before deposition on landfills due to its high pollutant load (Cr(VI) and heavy metals). Acid fly ash leaching, the process used for heavy metal recovery from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA), represents a possible treatment for heavy metal depletion and Cr(VI) reduction in WWFA. The coprocessing of WWFA with MSWIFA during acid fly ash leaching was investigated in laboratory- and industrial-scale experiments with different setups. Of interest were the effects on heavy metal recovery efficiency, the successful outcome of Cr(VI) reduction and consumption of neutralizing chemicals (HCl, H₂O₂). Detailed chemical and mineralogical characterization of two WWFA types and MSWIFA showed that MSWIFA has higher concentrations in potentially harmful elements than WWFA. However, both WWFA types showed high concentrations in Pb and Cr(VI), and therefore need treatment prior to deposition. Depending on the waste wood proportion and quality, WWFA showed chemical and mineralogical differences that affect leaching behavior. In all experimental setups, successful Cr(VI) reduction was achieved. However, WWFA showed higher consumption of HCl and H₂O₂, the latter resulting in a particularly negative effect on the recovery of Pb and Cu. Thus, coprocessing of smaller WWFA portions could be expedient in order to diminish the negative effects of Pb and Cu recovery.