The Emission and Distribution of PCDD/Fs in Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators and Coal-fired Power Plant

Abstract

The emission and distribution of polychlorinated debenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) was investigated in two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) and one coal-fired power plant (PP) in southern Taiwan. Samples were collected from stack flue gases (SFG), bottom residues (BR), super heater (SH), economizer (EC), semi-dry absorber (SDA), bag filter (BF), and fly ash pit (FAP) in MSWIs. Stack flue gases, bottom residues and electrostatic dust collectors (ESD) in PP were also collected. In order to compare the difference between the results of MSWIs and PP, samples from SFG, BS, and FAP in a PP were also determined. Seventeen congeners of PCDD/Fs were analyzed by utilizing a highresolution gas chromatograph/high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRGC/HRMS). Distributions of total PCDD/F-I-TEQ in each unit of MSWI-A and MSWI-B were SFG (0.3%, 0.07%), BR (3.9%, 0.62%), SH (0.17%, 0.24%), EC (4.2%, 0.05%), SDA (1.29%, 7.06%), and BF (90.14%, 91.97%), respectively. However, those in SFG, BS, and FAP of PP were 99.58%, 0.17%, and 0.25%, respectively. The above results indicated 99.5% PCDD/Fs were trapped in the fly ash of MWSI. On the other hand, 99.7% PCDD/Fs was emitted to the atmosphere from PP. The results of this study provide useful information for controlling PCDD/Fs in MSWIs and PP.

Distribution of Polybrominated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in a Coal-fired Power Plant and Two Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators

“…The results indicated the concentrations of PBDEs emitted from the stack flue gas of MSWI-A, MSWI-B and TPP were 9.32 ng/Nm 3 , 7.62 ng/Nm 3 , and 5.43 ng/Nm 3 , respectively. The results are comparable with our previous research which is focuses on the distribution of PCDD/Fs in MSWI-A, MSWI-B and TPP (Lin et al, 2010). The PBDE levels of MSWI-A were 116 to 132 times higher than that of the PCDD/F TEQs emitted from MWSI-A during the same period.…”

“…Also, long term atmospheric PCDD/F monitoring has been done . The main PCDD/F sources in MSWIs were found to be from fly ashes ; furthermore, the highest content of PCDD/Fs in the MSWIs studied were found to be the ashes in bag filters (Lin et al, 2010). In Taiwan, 72.2% of the electricity comes from thermal power plants, and 67% of those use coal as fuel.…”

An Overview of PCDD/F Inventories and Emission Factors from Stationary and Mobile Sources: What We Know and What is Missing

“…The PCDD/F emissions from coal-fired power plants depend on the type of coal used as well as the APCDs in operation. As seen in Table 7, Mokhtar et al (2014) and 0.147 µg I-TEQ tonne-coal -1 in Lin et al (2010)). Mokhtar et al (2014) indicated that bituminous coal with high sulfur content resulted in slightly lower PCDD/F emissions compared to sub-bituminous coal.…”

Capture of Particles from an Iron and Steel Smelter with a Pulse-Energized Electrostatic Precipitator

“…Consequently, there is a need to limit the emission of such particles. On the other hand, it is well known that industries, such as iron and steel smelters, coal-fired power plants and solid waste incinerators, release a significant quantity of particles to the atmosphere (Dusseldorp et al, 1995;Lin et al, 2010;Ning and Sioutas, 2010). Of these releases, over half the particles go to on-site land disposal, and one quarter are fugitive or point source air emissions.…”