One of the main challenges of bottom ash reutilization is heavy metal and salts' leaching potential. The effect of wet treatment on chemical composition and leaching toxicity of bottom ash were investigated in this study to mitigate this leaching potential. Batch leaching and column leaching tests were first conducted to investigate the leaching behavior of the targeted elements (Cu, Zn, Ni, Cl-, and SO42-) from raw bottom ash and treated bottom ash after wet treatment. X-ray fluorescence analysis was used to analyze the chemical composition of bottom ash, and sequential extraction procedure (SEP) operation was done to analyze the chemical species of the heavy metals of bottom ash. The obtained results showed that the wet treatment applied on raw bottom ash posed a slight influence on the concentration of most of the major elements, 5.57-18.18%. SEP results showed the acid extractable Zn that accounted for 22.4-24.5% of the total Zn, and the iron manganese oxide bound Ni was 25.2-28.4%, and the organic matter bound Cu was 21.4-31.7%. The wet treatment reduced the concentrations and leachable amount of the targeted pollutants, which could decrease the leaching concentration of Cu by 77.1%, Zn by 34.7%, Ni by 100%, Cl by 30.1%, and SO42- by 51.4% based on the batch leaching tests under acid condition. The column leaching tests also suggest that wet treatment decreases Cu, Zn, and Cl- leaching concentration in bottom ash. This indicates that wet treatment improves the suitability of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash for reutilization in China. @en

Bottom ash contains unfavorable contaminants that could leach into the circulating water used for wet treatment, and its improper disposal of bottom ash could cause ecological pollution. This study was to discuss the partition of heavy metals and salts of bottom ash into circulating water and ash stockpile runoff in wet treatment plants in southern China. The leachability of bottom ash before and after the wet treatment was also investigated. The checked heavy metals Pb, Cu, and Ni and dissolved salts Cl− and SO42− show lower available fractions in leachate from the treated bottom ash than that in raw bottom ash. Circulating water is contaminated by target heavy metals, which the contents of Cu and Pb is higher than its limit for urban wastewater discharge. The circulating water owned the highest concentration of Cl− and SO42−, above10000 mg/L, and 1100 mg/L, which is far higher than the limits. The detected heavy metals, Cl− and SO42− in runoff also exceed the limits for urban wastewater discharge. Locations for bottom ash processing and storage sites should be selected to control and prevent any leaching and runoff impacts. Any runoff and circulation water should be discharged to the lined landfill's leachate collection system or suitable industrial wastewater treatment facilities.@en