Thermoplastic Stabilization of MSW Combustor Ash
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 1
Abstract
High‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and polystyrene (PS) resins were used to encapsulate municipal solid waste (MSW) combustor ash. Ash:plastic cylinders containing up to 70% ash were produced using a mix, melt, and compaction technique. Compressive strength of the ash:plastic cylinders varied with resin type and generally decreased with increasing ash content. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) regulatory leaching tests conducted on both whole and fragmented ash:plastic cylinders showed that the metal contents of the leachates did not exceed regulatory limits for toxicity. In addition, lead and cadmium were not detected in leachates from distilled‐deionized water tank leaching studies. Sodium leaching provided a valuable tool for determining the extent of ash encapsulation within the ash:plastic cylinders. Results of this study show that thermoplastic stabilization of refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) combustor ash can produce physically strong cylinders that effectively encapsulate the ash particles resulting in significant reductions in the potential for contaminant leaching.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 1 • January 1994
Pages: 154 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 21, 1992
Published online: Jan 1, 1994
Published in print: Jan 1994
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