Disposal technology and new progress for dioxins and heavy metals in fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration: A critical review

Incineration has gradually become the most effective way to deal with MSW due to its obvious volume reduction and weight reduction effects. However, since heavy metals and organic pollutants carried by municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash (MSWI FA) pose a serious threat to the ecological environment and human health, they need to be handled carefully. In this study, the current status of MSWI FA disposal was first reviewed, and the harmless and resourceful disposal technologies of heavy metals and organic pollutants in MSWI FA are summarized as well. A summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, including sintering, melting/vitrification, hydrothermal treatment, mechanochemistry, solidification/stabilization of MSWI FA, is compared. Finally, the research work that needs to be strengthened in the future (such as codisposal of multiple wastes, long-term stability research of disposal products, etc.) was proposed. Through comprehensive analysis, some reasonable and feasible suggestions were provided for the effective and safe disposal of MSWI FA in the future.