Thermogravimetric analysis as significant tool for suitability assessment of solid waste destined for processing by thermal desorption

Thermogravimetric analysis combined with a mass spectroscopy detector was used to study the thermal stability of solid materials earmarked for processing by thermal desorption (for example during the amelioration of environmental damage).  The objective of the study was to verify the applicability of thermogravimetric analysis as a simple and fast tool capable of providing basic information about the behavior of a particular solid material during its heating to a given temperature. Samples of materials representing the spectrum of solids customarily treated during environmental remediation (soils, bricks, and concrete) were used as the model solid matrices. The measurements demonstrated a high informative power of thermogravimetric analysis, which may help predict many technologically important aspects of the thermal desorption process.