The Ash2Salt process is preceded by two pre-treatment steps: In the first step, fly ash is washed with water resulting in a cleaned ash and a leachate containing mainly chloride salts and heavy metals that continues to the second step.

In the second step, sulphides are used to precipitate heavy metals from the leachate and the resulting chloride-saturated liquid then continues to the Ash2Salt process. Ash2Salt process separates calcium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium chloride by the use of a single evaporator. In addition, water extracted from the evaporator is recirculated to the initial washing step.

In a washing plant for fly ash without the Ash2Salt process, following limitations exist:

• The washing plant must have permission to discharge large amounts of chloride-containing effluents
• The chloride content of the ash can vary depending on what the incineration plants burn resulting in different amounts of chloride effluent that must be discharged.
• Fresh water is needed for the washing

The main advantages of having the Ash2Salt process are:

• Washing of fly ash without a discharge of chlorides
• High tolerance for variations in chloride content in the ash
• Creates a source of income by producing pure commercial salts and ammonia
• Recovers nitrogen and potassium, which can be used in fertiliser production
• No need for fresh water since the Ash2Salt process can use landfill leachate and process water for the washing

EasyMining’s patented Ash2Salt process is unique and can extract commercial salts from high chloride containing fly ashes. After washing, the ash residue can be landfilled without an exemption for high chloride contents or re-used as an industrial raw material.

The Ash2Salt process can extract commercial grade:

• Potassium chloride (KCl)
• Sodium chloride (NaCl)
• Calcium chloride (CaCl2)
• Aqueous ammonia solution (NH3) or ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4)