The immobilization of potentially toxic elements due to incineration and weathering of bottom ash fines.

Incineration bottom ash fines (≤ 125 µm) are known to contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and inorganic salts. The most abundant PTEs in the fines were Zn (0.5%), Cu (0.25%), Pb (0.12%), Mn (0.08%) and Cr (0.03%). The systematic quantification of the mineral phases and PTEs associated with them was performed with a multimethod approach using quantitative XRD, phase mapping with PhAse Recognition and Characterization (PARC) software and microprobe analysis. The mineral phases in the fines can be categorized as follows: 1) residual phases (e.g., quartz), 2) incineration phases (e.g., melilitic slag and iron oxides) and 3) quenching/weathering phases (e.g., calcite, ettringite, gypsum, hydrous Fe- and Al-oxides). Among the incineration phases, the melilitic slag was observed to contain Cr, Cu and Zn with 0.02%, 0.13% and 0.19%, respectively. In order of predominance, the weathering phases containing the most PTEs were: calcite < ettringite < hydrous Al-oxides < hydrous Fe-oxides. More than 70% of the phases in the BA fines were formed during incineration and weathering processes that explain the enrichment of PTEs in the smaller particles. During the one-batch leaching test, dissolution of weathering phases, especially ettringite, was observed (total mass loss: 7.2%).

In-depth mineralogical quantification of MSWI bottom ash phases and their association with potentially toxic elements.

Municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash fractions ≤4 mm are the most contaminated ones in terms of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In order to estimate potential environmental impacts, it is important to understand the association of the PTEs with the mineral phases. Large area phase mapping (SEM/EDX) using "PhAse Recognition and Characterization - PARC" software in combination with quantitative X-ray powder diffraction has been used to characterize amorphous and crystalline BA phases for the first time. The results show that one of the main incineration products was melilite and an amorphous phase with a melilitic composition. The ratio of crystalline to amorphous melilite was 1:2. They formed an inhomogeneous layer around BA particles and contained a high percentage of the PTEs, i.e., Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr. Other major sources of PTEs (especially Ni and Cu) were iron oxides produced during incineration and the weathering products, such as calcite and ettringite (Cu and Zn). After extensive characterization of BA, a sequential extraction procedure (SEP) was performed, which exposed bottom ash to different chemical environments designed to dissolve specific phases and release their PTEs into solution. The extracted solutions and solid residues generated from the extraction procedure were analyzed to identify the association between PTEs and dissolved phases of BA. By combining SEP results with information obtained via large area phase mapping it is shown that SEP can be used for studying the association of PTEs with the phase that cannot be investigated with XRD/EDX, such as organic matter and Fe-Mn-hydrous oxides. Furthermore, according to SEP results a high percentage (40-80 wt%) of each investigated PTE can be considered immobile and not susceptible to leaching in the environment.

A SEM-EDS study of cultural heritage objects with interpretation of constituents and their distribution using PARC data analysis.

Two cultural heritage objects studied with scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are presented in this article: (1) archeological iron present in a soil sample and (2) a chip from a purple-colored area of an undisclosed 17th century painting. Novel PARC software was used to interpret the data in terms of quantitative distribution of mineral and organo-mineral phases as well as their chemical composition. The study serves to demonstrate the power of PARC rather than solving specific archeological issues. The observations on archeological iron potentially can assist in (1) studing the source of iron-metal and the style of forging, (2) learning about alteration processes of artifacts in the particular soil from which the sample originated, and (3) determining the nature of the fractures in the Fe-oxide envelope (desiccation of the sample after excavation, or as primary feature caused by volume change from oxidation). In the paint chip, 11 consecutive layers can be distinguished using the PARC software. In general, each layer consists of a carrier supporting inorganic fragments. In the basal layer the fragments are dominant; in the superimposed layers the carrier usually is. Both organic and inorganic carriers appear to be present. Organic carriers can contain typically inorganic constituents (e.g., Pb, Al), beyond the chemical spatial resolution of EDS (i.e., <1 µm).