Heavy metal recovery from the fine fraction of solid waste incineration bottom ash by wet density separation

Enthalten in
Journal of material cycles and waste management 
Volume
24
Issue
1
Start Page
364
End Page
377
Citation
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management 24 (1): 364-377 (2022-01)
Publisher DOI
10.1007/s10163-021-01325-1
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85119248481
Publisher
Springer
This work is aimed at exploring the recovery of heavy metals from the fine fraction of solid waste incineration bottom ash. For this study, wet-discharged bottom ash fine-fraction samples from full-scale treatment plants in Germany and Sweden were analyzed. The potential for the recovery of heavy metal compounds was investigated through wet density-separation with a shaking table. The feed materials were processed without any pre-treatment and the optimum processing conditions were determined by means of design of experiments. Tilt angle and stroke frequency were identified as the most relevant parameters, and the optimum settings were − 7.5° and 266 rpm, respectively. The obtained balanced copper enrichments (and yields) were 4.4 (41%), 6.2 (28%) and 2.4 (23%). A maximum copper enrichment of 14.5 with 2% yield was achieved, providing a concentrate containing 35.9 wt.% relevant heavy metal elements. This included 26.3 wt.% iron, 4.3 wt.% zinc and 3.8 wt.% copper. In conclusion, density separation with shaking tables can recover heavy metals from bottom ash fine fractions. Medium levels of heavy metal enrichment (e.g., for Cu 2.7–4.4) and yield (Cu: 26–41%) can be reached simultaneously. However, the separation performance also depends on the individual bottom ash sample.
Schlagworte
Bottom ash
Circular economy
Density separation
Design of experiments
DDC Class
600: Technik
620: Ingenieurwissenschaften
Projekt(e)
BASH-TREAT-Optimierung der Rostaschebehandlung für eine verbesserte Rückgewinnung von Metallen und Wertstoffen aus der Feinfraktion-Teilprojekt 1: Qualitätssicherung und weitergehende Entwicklung der Aufbereitungstechnik. 
More Funding Information
This research was funded by the ERA-MIN2 program (Research and innovation program on raw materials for the sustainable development and the circular economy, under the ERA-NET Cofund scheme on Raw Materials) for the project “BASH-TREAT.

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.