Data on physical and chemical characterization of wood combustion products derived at cogeneration power plants

Abstract The data presented in this article are related to the research paper “Granulation of fly ash and biochar with organic lake sediments – A way to sustainable utilization of waste from bioenergy production” [1] in the context of waste material investigation and possible valorization instead of disposal. This article provides a comprehensive chemical and physical characterization of wood combustion products – fly ashes, bottom ashes, mixed ashes and biochar. Multiple analytical techniques and methodology were exploited to investigate the composition of wood combustion products, among them a loss on ignition, potentiometry, colorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, gas chromatography. General parameters detected were the content of dry matter, gravimetric water, volatile matter, amount of ash and fixed carbon. The elemental analysis involved determining C, H, N and O. Physical properties were described by bulk density, solid density, total porosity, electric conductivity, specific weight and mass ratio assessment of particle size distribution. The mineralogical composition was described by major crystalline phases of samples and content of oxides. Chemical properties and composition were characterized by pH, the content of ammonium, nitrates, nitrites, exchangeable elements and cation exchange capacity as well as after the 3-step speciation and analytical quantification of trace and major elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Tl, V and Zn) and detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.