Fractionation of Heavy Metals in Fly Ash from Wood Biomass Using the BCR Sequential Extraction Procedure

The aim of this study was to extract the wood biomass fly ash fractions by a three-stage sequential extraction method for acetic acid and ion exchangeable (BCR 1), hydroxylamine hydrochloride reduction (BCR 2), and hydrogen peroxide oxidation (BCR 3) fractions in order to access the leaching behavior of this residue. The fly ash was collected as a by-product from the processing of mixed wood biomass in Udbina combustion facility, Croatia. Concentrations of several elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in all extracts were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The acidic exchangeable form of the metals was used to evaluate the potential ecological risk of biomass fly ash. According to calculated potential ecological risk index, it is confirmed that mobility of Ni and As has major environmental impact. However the results of potential ecological risk show that biomass fly ash had a low risk.