Total organic carbon in fly ash from MSW incinerators as a potential combustion indicator: Setting up of the measurement methodology and preliminary evaluation

Good incineration plant management requires total combustion of organic materials as well as immobilization of inorganic ones. Ideally, on-line monitoring of proper parameters is needed. Accordingly, a new quick methodology is proposed to measure total organic carbon (TOC) in combustion plant fly ash directly on the solid matrix. The method has proved to be reliable because the results give good reproducibility and accuracy. Moreover, the analysis requires very little time, thus satisfying the basic prerequisite for the use of this parameter as a nearly on-line indicator. The preliminary evaluation of its applicability is positive. A significant time-variability in the TOC content of fly ash collected from the first boiler hoppers is observed. The spatial distribution of TOC values and its relationship with the particle size distribution highlight a number of interesting points with respect to fly ash management and regulatory aspects. (C) 1997 ISWA.