The Behavior of Arsenic in a Rotary Kiln Incinerator

Abstract

A research test program which focused on the partitioning of environmentally sensitive metals that resulted from controlled incineration of multi-contaminated soils (organics and metals) was carried out at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Incineration Research Facility (IRF). A synthetic matrix and an actual Superfund soil were the systems from which the partitioning of arsenic was measured.

Incineration variables of kiln exit temperature, afterburner exit temperature, chlorine content and initial arsenic concentration were tested. The amount of arsenic partitioned to the ash was found to be dependent on kiln temperature, but independent of afterburner exit temperature and feed chlorine content. A distinct difference in arsenic volatility was observed between the different soil matrices, and the TCLP values for arsenic in the kiln ash of the Superfund soil was affected by the combustion conditions.