Biomedical subjects

T Van Gerven

Publications and source records attributed to T Van Gerven.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Integrated municipal solid waste treatment using a grate furnace incinerator: the Indaver case.

An integrated installation for treatment of municipal solid waste and comparable waste from industrial origin is described. It consists of three grate furnace lines with flue gas treatment by half-wet scrubbing followed by wet scrubbing, and an installation for wet treatment of bottom ash. It is demonstrated that this integrated installation combines high recovery of energy (40.8% net) with high materials recovery. The following fractions were obtained after wet treatment of the bottom ash: ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, three granulate fractions with different particle sizes, and sludge. The ferrous and non-ferrous metal fractions can both be recycled as high quality raw materials; the two larger particle size particle fractions can be applied as secondary raw materials in building applications; the sand fraction can be used for applications on a landfill; and the sludge is landfilled. For all components of interest, emissions to air are below the limit values. The integrated grate furnace installation is characterised by zero wastewater discharge and high occupational safety. Moreover, with the considered installation, major pollutants, such as PCDD/PCDF, Hg and iodine-136 are to a large extent removed from the environment and concentrated in a small residual waste stream (flue gas cleaning residue), which can be landfilled after stabilisation.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2006

Extraction of heavy metals from municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash with organic solutions.

Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) bottom ash often cannot be recycled as construction material in Flanders, because leaching of Cu exceeds the limit value of 0.5mg/kg. Leaching of other components such as Mo and Sb is critical as well, but limit values for these elements are to date only informal. A treatment technique was investigated to lower pollutant leaching: extraction with solutions of organic complexants to remove Cu. Six different solutions were used, of which washing with citric acid and ammonium citrate decreases Cu leaching to below the limit value. Extraction was then performed with different concentrations of ammonium citrate. Subsequent washing of the extracted material with distilled water appears to be vital to remove all residual ammonium citrate. Extraction with a 0.2M solution of ammonium citrate followed by three washing steps decreases metal leaching to below the limit values.

Citric Acid↗

PubMed2006

Effects of carbonation and leaching on porosity in cement-bound waste.

Porosity is possibly an important parameter with respect to leaching of constituents from cement monoliths. During its lifetime, the pore structure of cementitious matrices changes due to carbonation and leaching. This paper discusses the effects of both accelerated carbonation and continuous leaching on the porosity, and, conversely, how porosity affects leaching properties. Two sample types are investigated: a mortar with MSWI-bottom ash substituting the sand fraction and a cement paste with 30 wt% of the cement substituted by a flue gas cleaning residue. The samples have been intensively carbonated in a 20% CO(2) atmosphere for up to 60 days and were subsequently leached. The porosity was investigated by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Accelerated carbonation decreases total porosity by 12% in the case of 60 days of treatment of bottom ash mortars, whereas continuous leaching during 225 days increases it by 16%. Both carbonation and leaching decrease the amount of smaller capillary pores. Carbonation decreases both porosity and pH. Decreasing porosity diminishes leaching of sodium and potassium, while the decrease in pH increases leaching. However, the former process dominates the latter, resulting in a net decreasing effect of carbonation on the release of sodium and potassium from these cement matrices.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2006

Accelerated carbonation for treatment of MSWI bottom ash.

Leaching of heavy metals from MSWI bottom ash exceeds some of the Flemish limit values for recycling the material as granular construction application. In particular, leaching of Cu, Zn and Pb often exceeds the limit value, with Cu being the most critical. In order to recycle bottom ash, treatment is therefore required. The bottom ash studied was divided on-site into four fractions using a large-scale wet sieving installation: a sludge fraction (Ø 0-0.1mm), a sand fraction (Ø 0.1-2mm) and two gravel fractions (Ø 2-6 and 6-50mm). The two gravel fractions complied with the limit values after 3 months of natural ageing. The sand and sludge fraction did not reach the limit value for Cu. Four weeks of accelerated carbonation resulted in an important decrease of Cu leaching from these two fractions, although the limit value is still exceeded. In view of applying carbonation as one of the treatment methods in an integrated industrial application, two tests were additionally performed. The use of stack gas as carbonating medium was verified by setting up an accelerated carbonation experiment at the incineration plant. Also, the depth of carbonation was measured in a 10 cm thick sample of the sand fraction after different periods of treatment. After 3 months of natural ageing only the upper 4 cm underwent a significant carbonation, while after one week of accelerated carbonation the total sample was carbonated. A model was developed to predict these experimental results.

Carbon↗

PubMed2005

Carbonation of MSWI-bottom ash to decrease heavy metal leaching, in view of recycling.

The 0.1-2 mm fraction of a MSWI-bottom ash cannot be used as granular construction material because leaching of Cu exceeds Flemish limit values. In addition, leaching of Ba, Mo and Sb exceeds informal limit values. Leaching characteristics thus need to be improved. Carbonation was the chosen treatment method and this was performed by placing samples in a CO2 chamber. The CO2 percentage and the temperature of the chamber atmosphere, as well as the initial humidity of the samples, were varied to optimize carbonation parameters. Metal leaching was tested with the EN 12457 extraction test. Carbonation decreased Cu leaching from 3.3 to 1.0 mg/kg, but not yet to below the official limit value of 0.5 mg/kg. Leaching of Mo and Sb remained fairly constant or even increased after carbonation, but their limit values are only informal. Ba leaching decreased to below the informal limit value. Carbonation also caused Cr leaching to increase, in some cases to above the official limit value. Of the tested parameters, a CO2 percentage of 10% and a carbonation temperature of 50 degrees C in the atmosphere, together with ash humidity between 13% and 25% appeared to give the best leaching results. The main carbonation reactions took place within the first 24 h.

Carbon↗

PubMed2005

Management of incinerator residues in Flanders (Belgium) and in neighbouring countries. A comparison.

This paper covers the Flemish legislative tools concerning the management of bottom ash, fly ash and APC residue from municipal waste incinerators, with respect to their contamination with heavy metals. The situation in Flanders is compared to the one in the Walloon region, The Netherlands, Germany and France. Waste management in the countries considered differs on the level of available management options, of leaching tests and of limit values. To make an indicative comparison of leaching tests and limit values in the different countries, leaching tests were carried out on bottom ash and fly ash, and the results are compared to the relevant limit values for recycling and landfilling of the different countries. The comparison of legislations as well as the leaching results show that discrepancies in waste management between the different regions and countries exist. Recently, European limit values for landfilling became available. European legislation on recycling, however, has not been developed and urgently needs to be considered and drafted as the market for recycling can be expanding rapidly.

Belgium↗

PubMed2002

Characterisation and treatment of roads covered with zinc ashes, muffle furnace fragments and lead slags from former non-ferrous metal industries in Belgium.

Zinc ashes, muffle furnace fragments and lead slags from non-ferrous industries were applied to pave roads in the North of Belgium. From an inventory it appeared that there are at least 490 km of such roads. In our survey the materials on these roads were characterised. The total metal concentration, the availability and the leaching as a function of time were determined. It appeared that these materials contain high concentrations of heavy metals, some of which are readily available. The high leaching of some metals makes them as such unsuitable as secondary construction material. Methods for the application of these materials for road construction were examined where the materials replaced part of the sand and gravel fraction in lean concrete and in bituminous mixtures, or where they replaced the sand in sand-cement mixtures, all these to be used for road foundations, cycle tracks, etc. When lead slags were applied in lean concrete, a material was obtained complying with the standards for secondary construction materials and with sufficient compressive strength for road foundations. When zinc ashes or muffle fragments were used to replace sand in sand-cement mixtures, again a suitable construction material was obtained. The other combinations tried out were rather unsuccessful, because of high metal leaching and/or poor compressive strength.

Belgium↗