Identification of phenolic compounds in fly ash from municipal waste incineration by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Fly ash obtained from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) was analyzed for phenolic compounds by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). After the treatment of the fly ash with HCl, phenolic compounds in the ash were extracted with benzene from both residual fly ash and the acidic solution and they were separated by partition extraction of the extract using HCl, and NaOH and NaHCO3 solutions. The extract was cleaned up and separated into four fractions by silica gel column chromatography. Phenolic compounds in the fractions were identified by GC/MS. Many unknown phenolic compounds were found in the fly ash.