Volatility of arsenic and lead from simulated incinerator slags

Experiments were conducted on arsenic and lead volatility from simulated sl ags containing either arsenic or lead, Samples were exposed to temperatures up to 900 degrees C and atmospheres that were inert, oxidizing, reducing, or contained hydrogen chloride. Both arsenic and lead deposited within the system during the experiment, requiring a cleaning procedure to remove and capture the metal for measurement. Arsenic or lead volatility increased wit h increasing treatment time, temperature, and CO concentration. Lead volati lity also increased with increasing HCl concentration. The arsenic volatili zed was two orders of magnitude less than lead for the same experimental co nditions. The results show that under conditions similarly occurring in a h azardous waste incinerator, arsenic in a slag is relatively involatile, and only a small fraction of either arsenic or lead is volatilized.