Intra- and inter-particle heterogeneity of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash particles

This study firstly investigated elemental heterogeneity of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash particles. Two types of heterogeneities were measured quantitatively focusing on three structural components of fly ash particles. They are internal heterogeneity of individual fly ash particles (intra-particle heterogeneity) and inter-particle heterogeneities among fly ash particles. On the surface of fly ash particles, Cl, K, and Na have 0–82% larger intra-particle heterogeneities than Al, Ca, and Si owing to KCl/NaCl-based aggregates. Smaller intra-particle heterogeneity of Ca in semi-soluble component than those of Al and Si suggest that semi-soluble Al/Ca/Si-based matrices around insoluble cores are Ca-based materials including aluminosilicate domains. Inter-particle heterogeneities of Al, Ca, and Si in semi-soluble and insoluble components are 9–40% and 49–352% higher than those of fly ash particle surface, respectively. Inter-particle heterogeneity analysis also suggests that insoluble components mainly consists of Si-, Al-, or Ca-rich cores. MSWI fly ash particles have both internal heterogeneities inside their bodies and also are heterogeneous in inter-particle level. When MSWI fly ash becomes wet during chelate treatment, it changed intra-particle heterogeneity as well as inter-particle heterogeneity. Their variations were contrast depending on element and site (fly ash particle component).