Formation and emission status of PCDDs/PCDFs in municipal solid waste incinerators in Korea

Chemosphere. 2001 May-Jun;43(4-7):701-7. doi: 10.1016/s0045-6535(00)00423-9.

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the formation and the emission status of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in the flue gases of commercial-scale municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators, and thus to provide the engineering data for the reduction of PCDDs/PCDFs emitted from MSW incinerators. The formation concentrations of the PCDDs/PCDFs generated at the outlet of waste heat boilers (WHB) were in the range of 1.18-29.61 ng-TEQ/N m3 (average 5.75 ng-TEQ/N m3), while the emission concentrations at the stacks were in the range of 0.026-4.548 ng-TEQ/N m3 (average 0.924 ng-TEQ/N m3). Two major 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HxCDF, and their concentrations were up to 50% and 64% of total TEQ values at the outlet of WHB and the stack, respectively. From the results of multi-regression analysis, the formation concentration of PCDDs/PCDFs could be predicted as follows with the correlation factor of r2 = 0.962: PCDDs/PCDFs (ng-TEQ/N m3) = 3.036 (Cl) + 0.094 (T1) - 0.472 (Combustibles) + 0.059 (CO) - 0.039 (THC) - 3.366 (H) + 22.157, where T1 (degrees C) is the temperature at the outlet of the WHB. Cl, Combustibles and H are given as percentages and the others are in parts per million.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Benzofurans / analysis*
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Gases
  • Incineration
  • Korea
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analysis*
  • Refuse Disposal*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Benzofurans
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Gases
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Soil Pollutants