Heavy Metal Chelating Agents

For incineration fly ash we start from roughly 2–5 % by weight of the ash — a mix of about 100 parts ash to 3–5 parts chelating agent to 30 parts water is the usual starting point. Heavy metal content varies from one incinerator to the next, so treat that as a starting point only: the final dose is set after analysing a sample from the facility and confirming it by leaching test. For process water and effluent it depends on which metals are present and at what concentration, on pH, on co-existing ions and on the leaching limit you have to meet, so we begin from a sample analysis.

Yes, though efficiency depends on dosing order and pH, so tell us which coagulant you use and where it is dosed and we will scope it against those conditions. Looking at the coagulation and settling regime together is what removes repeat treatment.

Every hazardous-waste content criterion in the Enforcement Rule of the Wastes Control Act has to be cleared. In the leachate that means lead 3 mg/L, copper 3 mg/L, arsenic 1.5 mg/L, hexavalent chromium 1.5 mg/L, cyanide 1 mg/L, cadmium 0.3 mg/L, mercury 0.005 mg/L and oil content 5 %(wt/wt) — reaching any one of those figures classifies the waste as hazardous. The "3 ppm heavy metals" figure often quoted is the lead and copper limit specifically. Chelate-S supports meeting the criteria by locking the ions into insoluble complexes so less leaches out; the determination itself rests on a leaching test run to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Wastes (NIER Notice 2024-42).

Appearance, pH, specific gravity and viscosity are checked on every production lot to the Standards for Water Treatment Chemicals (Ministry of Environment Notice 2017-190). After field application we commission leaching tests on samples taken at the customer’s facility, covering all eight items — lead, copper, arsenic, hexavalent chromium, cyanide, cadmium, mercury and oil content. The specification tables above set out which items are checked and against which criteria.

Hazardous waste typically costs roughly two to four times as much to dispose of as non-hazardous waste. Reclassifying incineration fly ash captures that difference directly, so once the chemical cost is accounted for the case strengthens with volume. Tell us your annual fly ash tonnage and your current disposal rate and we will work the numbers against the required dose. Disposal rates vary by region and by year, so use your actual contract rate.

Municipal incineration and resource recovery facilities are our main customers. For public tenders we can supply a quotation, the MSDS and test reports to the specification; because ash characteristics differ from site to site we recommend testing a sample first to establish the right dose before the specification is agreed. Tell us the documents required and the procurement schedule and we will prepare accordingly.

Chelate-S is an alkaline liquid at pH 11.0. Wear protective gloves and eye protection, and do not store it with acidic chemicals. Refer to the MSDS for full handling and storage conditions — we can send it with your enquiry.