Characteristics of incineration bottom ash as a potential substitute for aggregates and cement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14311/CEJ.2026.01.0009Keywords:
Incineration bottom ash; Particle characteristics; Chemical components; Mineral composition; Pore structure, Incineration bottom ash, Particle characteristics, Chemical components, Mineral composition, Pore structureAbstract
The disposal of bottom ash from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) in landfills may lead to ecological contamination and inefficient land resources utilization. The investigation assessed whether MSWI bottom ash could serve as a substitute for sand and supplementary binder components in concrete production. Multiple analytical techniques were employed to characterize the MSWI bottom ash and its recycled powder. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser particle size analysis were used to determine chemical composition and particle size distribution, respectively. Microscopic morphology and pore structure were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption analysis. Phase composition was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), complemented with simultaneous thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results show that incineration bottom ash is coarse-grained and even exceeds the gradation range of Zone Ⅰ sand stipulated by the Chinese standard. Soaking and sieving treatment yields coarse bottom ash particles with clean surfaces, while fine bottom ash particles contain organic contaminants that are difficult to treat. The soaked bottom ash showed low Cl and SO3 content, containing mainly quartz, calcite, gypsum, and hematite. The particles of bottom ash-derived powder are gravel-shaped, with pore sizes ranging from 1 nm to 70 nm and a high specific surface area. The pores are mainly mesopores, accounting for 73.83% of the total pore volume. BET measurements revealed a specific surface area six times greater than that of cement. Except for Cr, all heavy metal leaching levels comply with Chinese regulatory limits. MSWI bottom ash shows potential for partial replacement of natural sand or cement in construction applications.
Received: 28.04.2025
Received in revised form: 15.09.2025
Accepted: 28.01.2026
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