The recycling of MSWI bottom ash in silicate based ceramic

Abstract The possibility of recycling the Municipal Solid Wastes Incinerated (MSWI) bottom ash by its incorporation in ceramic tiles was investigated. The MSWI bottom ash was introduced both in untreated (previous deironization) and vitrified condition. The sintering of the different products was investigated by determining water absorption and linear shrinkage. To evaluate possible variations due to the presence of different amount of bottom ash, mineralogical and microstructural examinations by quantitative X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, were performed. While the untreated bottom ash, till an amount of 5 wt%, did not seem to affect the above characteristics of selected materials, the vitrified bottom ash, 5–10 wt%, as strong fluxing agent, promoted the sintering of porcelain stoneware. Leaching results allow to assert that the fired samples are not dangerous.