Publication
Title
Chemical and sewage sludge co-incineration in a full-scale MSW incinerator: toxic trace element mass balance
Author
Abstract
Co-incineration of sludges with MSW is a quite common practice in Europe. This paper illustrates a case of co-incineration of both sewage sludges and chemical sludges, the latter obtained from drinking water production, in a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant located in northern Italy and equipped with a grate furnace, and compares the toxic trace elements mass balance with and without the co-incineration of sludges. The results show that co-incineration of sewage and chemical sludges does not result in an increase of toxic trace elements the total release in environment, with the exception of arsenic, whose total release increases from 1 mg tfuel-1 during standard operation to 3 mg tfuel-1 when sludges are co-incinerated. The increase of arsenic release is, however, attributable to the sole bottom ashes, where its concentration is five times higher during sludge co-incineration. No variation is observed for arsenic release at the stack. This fact is a further guarantee that the co-incineration of sludges, when performed in a state-of-the-art WTE plant, does not have negative effects on the atmospheric environment.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Waste management and research. - London
Publication
London : 2012
ISSN
0734-242X [print]
1096-3669 [online]
DOI
10.1177/0734242X12441236
Volume/pages
30 :10 (2012) , p. 1081-1088
ISI
000309281300010
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.11.2018
Last edited 24.01.2023
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