Use of Power Plant Ash to Remove and Solidify Heavy Metals from a Metal-finishing Wastewater

Abstract

© 2009, Springer Science+Business Media B.V. All Right Reserved. This laboratory-scale study investigated initially the potential of heavy metal removal from a metal-finishing wastewater using fly and bottom ash from a power plant as coagulants. It was found that the maximum heavy metal content in the ash–sludge mix was obtained at a fly ash-to-bottom ash ratio of 1.5:1 and a stirring time of 3 h, which resulted in heavy metal removal (i.e., Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in excess of 99%, with effluent concentrations below the corresponding regulatory standards of Thailand. Furthermore, the feasibility of using fly ash as an admixture to stabilize and solidify the ash–sludge mix generated previously was explored. Results indicated that the stabilization/solidification process can achieve a high level of heavy metal removal efficiency from the ash–sludge mix. The optimum ratio regarding chromium leaching was found to be 1:0.75:0.75 (cement:fly ash:ash–sludge). In addition, the compressive strength and the chromium leaching concentration of the solidified sludge were within acceptable levels for secure landfill disposal and/or use as a construction material.