Life-cycle environmental and cost impacts of reusing fly ash
Journal
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Journal Volume
123
Pages
255-260
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Abstract
Municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash, which includes residues collected from semidry scrubbers and bag filters, is a common hazardous waste that is difficult to recycle. We evaluate a novel application of the reuse of MSWI fly ash as a substitute alkali reagent in the Waelz process at an electric arc furnace (EAF) ash recycling plant because of its economical and environmental benefits. Life-cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis were used to compare the application with other alternatives, namely, disposal in landfill after stabilization/solidification, reuse as part of raw material in a cement kiln, and reuse as part of aggregates in brick. Data from field experiments which were performed at a commercial EAF ash recycling plant in Taiwan were used for the evaluation. Our results show that the proposed application has the lowest environmental impact because the ZnO recycling of EAF ash is environmental friendly for reducing the excavation of zinc ore. In terms of economy, the higher sale price of the resulting cement product offers the best benefit among different applications in this research. After integration of environmental and economic effects, the application was still superior to the three alternatives. Although stabilization/solidification and subsequent disposal of MSWI fly ash is common practice, the scarcity of landfill sites and its volume leads to risks associated with operation of incinerators. Thus, finding multiple approaches to recycling of MSWI fly ash is necessary. This study provides a potential option for the recycling of MSWI fly ash and presents its environmental and economic benefits in management of fly ash from MSWIs. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.
Other Subjects
Cements; Costs; Economic and social effects; Economics; Electric arcs; Electric furnaces; Environmental impact; Fly ash; Land fill; Life cycle; Municipal solid waste; Ores; Recycling; Stabilization; Waste incineration; Zinc ore treatment; Disposal in landfills; Electric arc furnace; Environmental benefits; Environmental-friendly; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); MSWI fly ash; Municipal solid waste incinerator fly ashes; Stabilization/solidification; Cost benefit analysis; zinc oxide; cost-benefit analysis; environmental economics; fly ash; incineration; landfill; life cycle analysis; municipal solid waste; recycling; waste disposal; Article; bottom ash; controlled study; cost benefit analysis; economic aspect; environmental factor; environmental impact; fly ash; furnace; hazardous waste; hazardous waste site; incineration; landfill; life cycle assessment; municipal solid waste; risk assessment; Taiwan; waste water recycling; Taiwan
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article