This study investigates and compares microwave-heating radiation with conventional heating. Incinerated municipal solid waste (IMSW) bottom ash (BA) and fly ash (FA) was utilized to recover various metals including Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn,Pb, Al, Cd, Ba, Mg and V using various acid leaching agents i.e. HCl, HNO3 and H3PO4 were utilized and several parameters were altered in order to determine the most effective conditions. The current study concluded that microwave assisted leaching method is

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... ective to recover most of the metals. In addtion, metals from MSWBA were much easier to recover in contrast with MSW-FA. 71% of Co, 75.69% of Cr, 56.19% of Cd, 35.23% of Ba and 30.2% of Pb, using 2M of HCl and 3M of H3PO4. While 1.48% of Cr, 0.93% of Fe, 1.19% of Mn, and 1.18% of Al were extracted using HCL and H3PO4 from MSWFA. It was also confirmed that higher power and longer contact time had a positive effect on metal recovery. From cost analysis point of view, microwave assisted leaching was fraction of the cost for conventional heating, making this method comparatively sustainable, energy efficient and safe.