Laboratory experiments with synthetic samples are
conducted to obtain information on the evaporation behavior
of metals in incinerators. In combining the results obtained
through field measurements presented in a companion
paper in this issue, hypotheses are postulated on the influence
of physical and chemical conditions as well as of kinetics
on the evaporation behavior of the chosen elements in
the furnace bed. These are validated by thermal treatment
of bottom ash samples in the laboratory. A temperature
increase of from 500 °C to 900 °C causes higher transfers
of most metals into the gaseous phase. Mo and Sb are
the exceptions. Chlorine availability generally favors
evaporation. Increasing oxidative conditions cause lower
Sn transfers. Transfer of the elements Cd, Mo, Sb, Sn, and
Zn is negatively affected by their reaction with reaction
partners other than oxygen and chlorine occurring in municipal
solid waste. Oxidation of organic carbon to CO and CO2
as well as HCl formation determine the distribution of
temperature, redox conditions, and chlorine availability in
the furnace bed. First indications are obtained on the
residence times of goods under these different local
conditions. The knowledge acquired can be used to design
new incinerators with “tailor-made” products that can
either be recycled or landfilled without an adverse
environmental impact for the long term. For this purpose,
mechanical processing techniques, thermal treatments at
temperatures between 500 °C and 1100 °C, and high-temperature treatments (>1100 °C) including melting
processes will have to be combined.
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