Sub-Product

Description

In a combustion process, the bottom ash is defined as agglomerated ash particles, which are too large to be carried in the flue gases.^[1]

Bottom Ash from Waste Incineration is the solid residue from combustion of municipal waste or other waste types in a Waste Incineration Furnace. Often Incineration Bottom Ashes have been subjected to a post treatment consisting of magnetic separation of iron and sieving and comminution of particles > 40 mm.^[2]

In 2018, around 96 million tonnes of waste were treated in Waste-to-Energy plants in Europe, which led to the production of approximately 19 million tonnes of bottom ash. Important quantities of metals and minerals are present in these residues and offer many opportunities for recycling.^[3]

Figure 1 - MSWI Bottom Ash Particle Size Distribution^[2]

References

1. ScienceDirect, Bottom Ash, accessed 14^th Apr 2024.
2. Cheng Y, Dong Y, Diao J, Zhang G, Chen C, Wu D. MSWI Bottom Ash Application to Resist Sulfate Attack on Concrete. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9(23):5091.
3. CEWEP, Bottom Ash Factsheet, accessed 15^th Apr 2024.