Assessment of MSWI bottom ash organic carbon behavior: A biophysicochemical approach

In order to understand the influence of organic components on the behavior of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash, samples from five French incinerators have been analyzed and compared. Biological and physico-chemical experiments were coupled with a view to developing a new rapid assessment method of bottom ash quality. Bottom ash had different total organic carbon contents ranging from 8.8 g kg −1 to 37.4 g kg −1. A part of this organic carbon can be leached into the environment or provide a substrate for microbial activity. Samples showed really different behaviors regarding these processes. Comparative results of leaching tests and biodegradation experiments showed a positive correlation between dissolved organic carbon and microbial activity. However, quantities of biodegraded or leached carbon are not representative of the samples’ total organic carbon content. Thermal analyses in oxidizing conditions have revealed the presence of two fractions of organic components, showing different thermal behaviors. The associated mass losses were measured and compared to dissolved organic carbon. One of the two fractions can be directly linked to the leachable and easily biodegradable organic matter fraction. Calorimetric test is then presented as a novel analysis method that allows to provide rapid and global information concerning the characteristics of organic matter in bottom ash and its possible short and long-term evolution.