Heavy metals fraction and ecological risk evaluation in municipal solid waste gasification slag non-burnt bricks

The heavy metals in non-burnt bricks made from municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification slags with a modified European Bureau Community of Reference procedure were studied. Heavy metals were present in the form of oxidizable and residual fractions, which were stable and not easy to dissolve. The preparation process of non-burnt bricks displayed prominent solidification effect for some heavy metals in the gasification slag. The solidified rate for metals, such as As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn reached 89.82%, 79.57%, 73.64%, 66.73%, and 88.05%, respectively. Moreover, the leaching concentrations of eight heavy metals were all below 8 mg/kg. On the basis of these observations, the risk of exposure to heavy metals in non-burnt bricks was evaluated using the solidification formula and the leaching concentration of heavy metals combined with the assessments of the Hakanson potential ecological risk and pollution ratio of secondary phase and primary phase. Results showed that the preparation of MSW gasification slag non-burnt bricks was not harmful to the environment, but attention is warranted for possible migration of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) in the long term, which may result in an impact on the ecological environment.