Fast indirect measurement of PCDD/F TEQ emission from municipal solid waste incineration: a review

Abstract

Landfilling, a traditional and major method for municipal solid waste management, is gradually being taken place by incineration. However, the contamination problem caused by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions from incineration has also brought much concerns. Traditional offline method based on high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry for the determination of PCDD/F emissions is expensive, infrequent and time-lagging. Use of PCDD/F indicators to achieve fast indirect measurements for PCDD/Fs is a much more promising method. Six categories of potential PCDD/F indicators are discussed in this paper: CO, total hydrocarbons, specific PCDD/F congeners, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorophenols and chlorobenzenes. Their performance as PCDD/F indicators are verified in the following criteria: (1) structural similarities; (2) known mechanistic arguments; (3) known correlation values from the literature and (4) detectability. Comprehensively considering the four factors, chlorobenzenes may be the best suitable PCDD/F indicator. One analytical method based on Photon Ionization coupled with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry has been proved effective for the online/atline measurements for PCDD/F indicators for the prediction of TEQ in incineration process. Moreover, thermal desorption and gas chromatography can be applied to provide extra separation and concentration for very complex matrices with extremely low concentrations.

Formation, Measurement, and Control of Dioxins from the Incineration of Municipal Solid Wastes: Recent Advances and Perspectives

“…However, the correlations between these common pollutants and PCDD/Fs are not as definite as those between CBzs and PCDD/F. Obviously, they have nothing to do with PCDD/Fs based on structure similarity or reaction mechanisms …”

“…Schematic of a typical REMPI–TOFMS instrument. Reprinted with permission from rev . Copyright 2019 Springer Nature.…”

“…Obviously, they have nothing to do with PCDD/Fs based on structure similarity or reaction mechanisms. 101 Oh et al 102 demonstrated that CO concentration was positively correlated with PCDD/Fs in 4 different incinerators of Korea, while O 2 and HCl were unrelated to PCDD/F. CO concentration in stack gas of a fluidized bed municipal solid waste incinerator had a weak positive correlation with total PCDD/F concentration.…”

“…Moreover, continuous PCDD/F emission data help to optimize plant operations. Cao et al reviewed the advances regarding fast indirect measurement of PCDD/F TEQ emission . Detecting the concentration of indicators to predict the PCDD/F emission is a much more promising method.…”

“…Cao et al reviewed the advances regarding fast indirect measurement of PCDD/F TEQ emission. 36 Detecting the concentration of indicators to predict the PCDD/F emission is a much more promising method. CO, total hydrocarbons, PCBs, PAHs, CBz, and CPh are the potential indicators.…”