Abstract
Abstract
Effects of postcombustion zone temperatures and flue gas residence times on monochlorinated to octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F) in a laboratory-scale reactor combusting municipal solid waste were investigated. Four different quench time profiles were investigated, falling from 400°C to 200°C, 300°C to 100°C, 450°C to 200°C and 460°C to 260°C, with corresponding residence times of 1.4 to 4.4 sec, 1.4 to 5.4 sec, 1.3 to 4.3 sec, and 1.3 to 4.0 sec, respectively. Flue gas samples were collected simultaneously at three fixed sampling points, with an additional sampling of flue gas entering the postcombustion zone (640°C). The quench time profiles resulted in different total PCDD/F yields, as well as differences in homologue profiles and congener patterns. Thus, the formation pathways seem to be dependent on sufficient residence time within a specific temperature region. Formation of PCDD/F was shown to be rapid and mainly located to the 640°C to 400°C temperature region, with non-detectable levels at 640°C and concentrations at 400°C that did not increase or decrease significantly downstream. Furthermore, a prolonged residence time at and above 450°C/ 460°C showed low yields even downstream the postcombustion zone compared to the 400°C to 200°C and 300°C to 100°C profiles. The 460°C to 260°C profile resulted in increased abundance at the last two sampling points of PCDD congeners known to correlate with 2,4,6-trichlorophenols, suggesting that chlorophenol condensation reactions were promoted by this quench time profile.
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