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Speciation of Zn in WtE fly ash residues after wet treatment

Fedje, Karin Karlfeldt ; Staničić, Ivana ; Nilsson, Charlotte ; Bergman, Fanny LU orcid ; Rui, Haakon M. ; Johansson, Inge ; Sala, Simone and Rissler, Jenny LU (2025) In Waste Management 207.
Abstract
Waste-to-energy fly ash can be repurposed if treated to limit the leaching of potentially toxic elements such as Zn. Ashes with lime additives can be stabilised via gypsum formation, while those without additives are better suited for acid-leaching treatment (and material recovery). In this study, ashes from grate-fired boilers – three without lime addition and one ash with lime addition – were treated by acid-leaching and gypsum stabilisation, respectively. By combining X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), surface-sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and sequential leaching of untreated and treated ash samples, we aimed to improve understanding of Zn chemical forms and leaching risks from the treated... (More)
Waste-to-energy fly ash can be repurposed if treated to limit the leaching of potentially toxic elements such as Zn. Ashes with lime additives can be stabilised via gypsum formation, while those without additives are better suited for acid-leaching treatment (and material recovery). In this study, ashes from grate-fired boilers – three without lime addition and one ash with lime addition – were treated by acid-leaching and gypsum stabilisation, respectively. By combining X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), surface-sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and sequential leaching of untreated and treated ash samples, we aimed to improve understanding of Zn chemical forms and leaching risks from the treated ashes.

In untreated ashes, Zn was enriched at particle surfaces and was most commonly found in the form of easily soluble KxZnyClz. Acid-leaching decreased the Zn content, specifically the KxZnyClz form, resulting in a higher proportion of spinels and silicates. Correspondingly, the concentration of Ca, Fe, S, and Si increased at the particle surfaces. In gypsum-stabilised ash, the Zn content remained similar to that in untreated ash, but the KxZnyClz was transformed into other Zn compounds. Both treatment methods resulted in more stable Zn compounds in the residues than in the untreated ashes. This work supports the transition towards safe and efficient use of fly ash residues by understanding how treatment affects Zn speciation, leachability and surface enrichment. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Waste Management
volume
207
article number
115112
pages
10 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40939283
  • scopus:105015360610
ISSN
0956-053X
DOI
10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115112
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
10bbf699-84ed-44e3-9b75-1a29bf00a1bf
date added to LUP
2025-09-25 13:03:21
date last changed
2025-10-01 03:29:45
@article{10bbf699-84ed-44e3-9b75-1a29bf00a1bf,
  abstract     = {{Waste-to-energy fly ash can be repurposed if treated to limit the leaching of potentially toxic elements such as Zn. Ashes with lime additives can be stabilised via gypsum formation, while those without additives are better suited for acid-leaching treatment (and material recovery). In this study, ashes from grate-fired boilers – three without lime addition and one ash with lime addition – were treated by acid-leaching and gypsum stabilisation, respectively. By combining X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), surface-sensitive X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and sequential leaching of untreated and treated ash samples, we aimed to improve understanding of Zn chemical forms and leaching risks from the treated ashes.<br/><br/>In untreated ashes, Zn was enriched at particle surfaces and was most commonly found in the form of easily soluble KxZnyClz. Acid-leaching decreased the Zn content, specifically the KxZnyClz form, resulting in a higher proportion of spinels and silicates. Correspondingly, the concentration of Ca, Fe, S, and Si increased at the particle surfaces. In gypsum-stabilised ash, the Zn content remained similar to that in untreated ash, but the KxZnyClz was transformed into other Zn compounds. Both treatment methods resulted in more stable Zn compounds in the residues than in the untreated ashes. This work supports the transition towards safe and efficient use of fly ash residues by understanding how treatment affects Zn speciation, leachability and surface enrichment.}},
  author       = {{Fedje, Karin Karlfeldt and Staničić, Ivana and Nilsson, Charlotte and Bergman, Fanny and Rui, Haakon M. and Johansson, Inge and Sala, Simone and Rissler, Jenny}},
  issn         = {{0956-053X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Waste Management}},
  title        = {{Speciation of Zn in WtE fly ash residues after wet treatment}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115112}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115112}},
  volume       = {{207}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}