A detailed examination of the degradation products emitted during thermal decomposition of TBBPA is presented. Runs were performed in a laboratory furnace at two different temperatures (650 and 800 ºC) and in two different atmospheres (nitrogen and air). More than one hundred semivolatile compounds have been identified, with special interest in brominated ones. Presence of HBr and brominated light hydrocarbons increased with temperature and in the presence of oxygen. Maximum formation of PAHs is observed at pyrolytic condition at the higher temperature. High levels of 2,4-, 2,6-and 2,4,6-bromophenols were found, which can be explained by the chemical structure of TBBPA. The levels of poly-brominated dioxins and furans have been evaluated, detecting amounts close to the ppm range.
CAPSULE ABSTRACTTBBPA mainly decomposes to give HBr and brominated hydrocarbons at high temperature, but high levels of bromophenols and poly-brominated dioxins are also produced.