Investigation of the release behaviour of caesium and strontium during the incineration of municipal solid waste in fluidized beds.

In this study the behaviour of the trace components caesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) in a fluidized bed municipal waste incineration is investigated. Doped RDF (refuse derived fuel) was combusted and bed and fly ash concentration were measured for varied fuel injection temperatures and doping amounts. The distribution of the trace components was calculated and shows that Cs is mostly transferred to the fly ash fraction. The same was found to a lesser extend for Sr. The influence of both, injection temperature and doping amounts, was mostly inconclusive. The comparison of the distribution with data from grate combustion experiments shows a significantly higher transfer of Cs to the fly ash. This was even more pronounced for Sr and indicates a transfer of Sr mostly by entrainment of coarse particles in the flue gas. The experimental results give an indication for the release behaviour of Cs and Sr in fluidized bed municipal waste incineration and relevant influencing factors. • Combustion of European refused-derived fuel doped with Cs and Sr in laboratory scale bubbling fluidized bed combustor. • Variation of combustion temperature and concentration of Cs and Sr in fuel. • Determination of the distribution of Cs and Sr to the combustion residues. • Comparison of results with literature data from Japan and experimental results of grate furnace. • Indication of main transfer mechanisms of Cs and Sr to fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]