Modeling kinetics of Cd, Pb, and Zn vaporization during municipal solid waste bed incineration

The fate of heavy metals contained in municipal solid waste is of major concern in the incineration process. This study is the first attempt to analyze the kinetic behavior of Cd, Pb, and Zn in a waste bed burning on the grate of an incinerator. The vaporization rates of the three heavy metals were derived from laboratory experiments. The kinetic law was then introduced into Garbed-ss, a mathematical model of the on-grate incineration of a refuse bed. Results show that the calculated vaporization of the three metals is fast, proceeds to nearly full completion, occurs at the pyrolysis front, and is indeed controlled by the thermal degradation of the waste. Alhough in agreement with thermodynamic calculations, the vaporization of lead and zinc seems to be overestimated. The model would be improved by accounting for the initial physical and chemical speciation of the heavy metals in the waste feed. © 2010 American Chemical Society.