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ROLE OF COMBUSTION AND SORBENT PARAMETERS IN PREVENTION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXIN AND POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURAN FORMATION DURING WASTE COMBUSTION
Citation:
Gullett*, B K., P. M. LEMIEUX, AND J. E. DUNN. ROLE OF COMBUSTION AND SORBENT PARAMETERS IN PREVENTION OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXIN AND POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZOFURAN FORMATION DURING WASTE COMBUSTION. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 28(1):107-118, (1994).
Description:
This research uses experimental data and a statistical approach to determine the effect of combustion- and sorbent-injection-related parameters on the mechanism of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD and PCDF, respectively) formation and prevention in waste combustors. The operation of a pilot-scale combustor was varied to effect different regimes of oxygen (O2), hydrogen chloride (HCl), and chlorine (Cl2) concentration; temperature; residence time; quench rate; and sorbent injection. The fly ash loading of a municipal waste combustor was simulated by postcombustion injection of fly ash collected from a full-scale facility. Downstream sampling and analysis indicated significant PCDD and PCDF formation, beyond concentrations on the preinjected fly ash, at rates conducive to explaining formation in full-scale facilities at particle/gas residence times <5 s. Stepwise regression analyses determined the predictive parameters for four models of PCDD, PCDF, the total of PCDD and PCDF yield, and the partitioning between PCDD and total yield. Substantial prevention of PCDD and PCDF formation can be brought about with upstream sorbent injection for HCl and Cl2) reduction, control of excess air, and increased quench rate.