A theoretical study of the potential for metal extraction from the incinerated ashes residing in Swedish landfills

• In Sweden, waste incineration has played a major role in sustainable waste management, as well as generating combined heat and electricity for many years. Incineration of combustible waste produces residues such as fly ash and bottom ash. The chemical composition of both ashes shows that they consist of bulk metals and scarce metals in significant quantity, in elemental form as well as in small metal pieces, which remain unsorted from the incinerated residues. This shows the potential for metal extraction from the ashes, which are deposited in Swedish landfills. Thus with the aim of quantifying selected metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Zn, Sb, Sn, Ni, Co, Mo, Ti and V), and assessing their flows and stocks in different deposits, this study has been carried out. Approximately 50% of grate plants and 30% of fluidized bed plant in Sweden were sampled for the study. The data collected from the sampled plants were the basis for the calculation of flow of ashes and metals through all the plants. First of all, annual metal flows for 19852010 were estimated, based on which accumulated stocks at different deposits were calculated.

Keyword

waste

incineration

bottom ash

fly ash

landfills

metal extraction

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)