Immobilization properties and reaction mechanism of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash with alkali activation technology

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) needs proper treatment prior to security landfilling because of considerable amounts of heavy metals and soluble chloride. Nowadays, alkali activation technology has become an effective solidification/stabilization (S/S) technology for MSWIFA. But few studies have been systematically carried out on the preparation techniques and reaction mechanism of MSWIFA S/S body. The effects of the technical parameters (alkali activator, sodium silicate modulus, alkali equivalent, water-solid ratio, curing regime) on the immobilization properties (compressive strength and heavy metal leaching toxicity) of MSWIFA S/S bodies were studied in this work. The hydration characteristics and reaction mechanism were also explored in depth based on the structure properties and microstructure characterization. Ca2+, Na+, SiO42−, [Al(OH)4]-, OH− dissociated from MSWIFA and alkali activator solution chemical reaction to form the silicates, aluminates and aluminosilicates with lower polymerization, and promoted the gel hydration products formation via depolycondensation. Lower Ca/Si molar ratio was conductive to the formation of amorphous substance, compactness of matrix pore structure and immobilization properties. Compared to the hydration products including halite, sylvine, glauberite, gypsum, calcite crystal, C–S–H gel contributed much more to the pore structure and strength improvement of MSWIFA S/S bodies. These findings will provide valuable theoretical basis for MSWIFA management and resource utilization promotion. •Alkali activation technology is conducive to immobilization of MSWIFA.•This work systematically studied the preparation technics of MSWIFA S/S bodies.•Hydration reaction mechanism of MSWIFA S/S bodies was revealed.•C–S–H gel contributed much to structure properties improvement of MSWIFA S/S bodies.