Municipal solid wastes incineration (MSWI) is an important part of the waste management systems in many European countries. Incineration process generates two main by-products: fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA). Bottom ash is composed of a variety of oxides, heavy metals and salts. Landfilling of untreated (fresh) BA can cause soil, surface and ground water contamination problems, because atmospheric precipitation in BA formed leachate, which contains of various materials. In this study investigates the influence of natural weathering to heavy metals leaching from BA. Leaching tests of bottom ash were carried out in 6 months, leachate samples were taken at 12 times (every 2 weeks). Heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Ni) concentrations were determined by atomic adsorption of spectral analysis method. The research shown, that the highest heavy metals concentration was determinated in 2-6 weeks weathered ash leachate. After 18-24 weeks heavy metals concentrations stabilized and remained almost constant.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/enviro.2017.046