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PILOT-SCALE STUDIES ON THE INCINERATION OF ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WASTE
Citation:
Lemieux*, P M., K. R. Bruce, J. E. Brenman, AND J. Roselli. PILOT-SCALE STUDIES ON THE INCINERATION OF ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WASTE. Presented at IT3 2003 Conference, Orlando, FL, 12-16 May 2003.
Description:
The paper describes experiments performed on a pilot-scale rotary kiln incinerator to investigate the emissions and operational behavior during the incineration of consumer electronics waste. These experiments were targeted at destroying the organic components of printed circuit boards while maintaining the metals in the kiln bottom ash so that they can be reclaimed for economic value. Batch and semi-continuous feeding experiments were performed. Exhaust gases were analyzed for metals, halogens, volatile organic products of incomplete combustion (PICs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs). Ash residues were analyzed for metals and combustible content. Batch charging experiments suggested that the heating value in the material due to the resins that constitute the circuit boards could generate significant transient puffs that deplete available oxygen and produce excessive emissions of carbon monoxide and soot. Semi-continuous feeding resulted in stable operation. Significant quantities of lead were found in the flyash in a leachable form, but the majority of the other metals remained behind in the bottom ash. Bromobenzene was the most prevalent PIC that was measured. Very low levels of PCDDs/Fs were observed.