Production of glass–ceramics from incinerator ash using lab-scale and pilot-scale thermal plasma systems

This research employed two thermal plasma melting systems and vitrification technology to treat incinerator ash. The melted slag was used for the production of glass–ceramics via powder sintering and heat treatment. When using the pilot-scale plasma molten system, the melt was rapidly quenched in water to yield glassy slag. The properties of quenched slag glass–ceramics were superior to that glass–ceramics produced by slowly cooling the slag with air. The glass–ceramics with the best physical/mechanical properties and chemical resistance was produced by heat treatment at 1150 °C for 2 h. Diopside and gehlenite were formed as the major crystalline phases. Glass–ceramics produced from incinerator ash demonstrate great potential for reutilization as non-porous or water permeable materials.