Study of a Chilean petroleum coke fluidized bed combustion fly ash and its potential application in copper, lead and hexavalent chromium removal

This work deals with the characterization of a circulated fluidized bed combustion (CFCB) Chilean petroleum coke fly ash (FA) from a petroleum coke power plant, and its potential use in neutralization and heavy metals removal from acid wastewaters. FA presents a high Ca and SO42- content, being anhydrite the major crystalline mineral phase, with minor proportions of calcite, portlandite and lime. Regarding to environmental characterization of this fly ash, leaching tests allowed concluding that FA is a non-hazardous residue. Heavy metals removal tests indicate that FA is able to remove Cu2+ and Pb2+ mainly due to a precipitation process, while Cr(VI) is being removed probably due to a reduction process to Cr(III), at high liquid to solid ratios. Cu2+, Pb2+ and Cr(VI) kinetic experimental data present acceptable fit to a pseudo-second order kinetic model. According to these results, FA may be used to remove heavy metals and neutralize acid wastewaters, suggesting a possible replacement of pure and costly alkaline materials.