Electrokinetic remediation of bottom ash from municipal solid waste incinerator

The electrokinetic remediation was studied to verify the possibility to reclaim the bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). In Italy, a production of 1 million tons per year of this kind of residue has been estimated, 90% of which is still landfilled. This work shows the results of four electrokinetic remediation tests for the removal of Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd and chlorides, using an open cell with graphite electrodes and without enhancing agents. The four tests have, respectively, been performed at a constant current density of 0.89, 1.67, 2.04 and 2.48 mA cm−2, with duration of 42, 68, 47 and 40 h. Heavy metals occur in ashes in various forms, such as exchangeable, adsorbed, precipitated, organically complexed and residual phases. In order to determine the nature of any given system, in terms of specific chemical species and pertaining mobilities, sequential extraction analyses have been performed. The release of pollutants was investigated for treated and untreated ash. After treatment, the concentration of pollutants in the leachate was reduced by 31–83%, better results being obtained for chlorides. Both the low amount of heavy metal extracted and the increase of ash pH during the electrokinetic tests, suggest to use enhancing agents or a cation exchange membrane at the cathode, to prevent the precipitation of metals as hydroxides.