Characterization of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ash Collected from Different Facilities of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator

Mao-Sung  Wang; Shui-Jen  Chen; Yi-Chieh  Lai; Kuo-Lin  Huang; Guo-Ping  Chang-Chien

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2010.01.0001

Characterization of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ash Collected from Different Facilities of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator

Mao-Sung Wang¹, Shui-Jen Chen ¹, Yi-Chieh Lai²^,3, Kuo-Lin Huang¹, Guo-Ping Chang-Chien²^,3

¹Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shieh-Fu Rd., Nei Pu 91207, Pingtung, Taiwan
²Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Cheng Shiu University, 840 Chengcing Rd., Niaosong Township, Kaohsiung County 833, Taiwan
³Super Micro Mass Research & Technology Center, Cheng Shiu University, 840 Chengcing Rd., Niaosong Township, Kaohsiung County 833, Taiwan

Received: July 31, 2010
Revised: July 31, 2010
Accepted: July 31, 2010
Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2010.01.0001

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Cite this article:
Wang, M.S., Chen, S.J., Lai, Y.C., Huang, K.L. and Chang-Chien, G.P. (2010). Characterization of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Ash Collected from Different Facilities of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 10: 391-402. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2010.01.0001

ABSTRACT

This study investigated five persistent organic pollutants (polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs/PBDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs/PBDFs), biphenyls (PCBs/PBBs), and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)) in ash collected from several units (super heater (SH), heat economizer (HE), semi-dryer absorber (SDA), bag-house filter (BF), and fly ash pit (FAP), and bottom ash (BA) discharger) of a large-scale municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI). Data on levels and emission factors of the five target compounds in the different units of the MSWI were first reported. The PCDD/Fs were found in high content in the HE, mainly because of the operating temperature range (250–400°C) which is favorable for PCDD/F formation through de novo synthesis. High concentrations PCBs and PBBs were detected in the BF. The highest concentrations of PBDD/Fs and PBDEs were observed in the BA. A significant correlation existed between content of PCDD/F and PCB in individual ash and corresponding operating temperature, while the content of ash-bound PBDD/Fs and PBDEs chiefly related to feeding wastes that contained brominated flame retardants. The emission of the five pollutants in the MSWI was primarily from fly ash. Further treatment is necessary for ash collected from the HE and BF because the ash had total-PCDD/F content exceeding the regulation limit (1 ng I-TEQ/g) in Taiwan.

Keywords: Emission factors; Distribution; Municipal solid waste incinerators; Brominated flame retardants; Persistent organic pollutants