Reducing Sb-leaching from municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash by addition of sorbent minerals

This paper investigates the mechanisms controlling Sb-leaching from fresh Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash, as well as the possibilities of controlling the extent of Sb-leaching by the addition of sorbent minerals to the bottom ash. In alkaline MSWI bottom ash Sb is possibly incorporated in ettringite-like minerals. When weathering/carbonation continues the ettringite dissolves resulting in a mobilisation of Sb. A: neutral pH values the leaching of Sb is likely to be controlled by sorption to amorphous Fe/Al-(hydr)oxides. It has been shown that Sb can effectively be removed from solution if salts of Fe(III) or AI(III) are added to the bottom ash. This addition of Fe(III)/Al(III)-salts leads to (1) the in-situ precipitation of Fe/Al-hydroxides and sorption/coprecipitation of contaminants such as Sb, and (2) a lower bottom ash pH and thus an increased affinity of oxyanions for sorption to Fe/Al-(hydr)oxides. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.