Carbon monoxide and total-hydrocarbon continuous monitoring at hazardous-waste incineration facilities

Incineration is being viewed increasingly as the most practical, least harmful means of disposing of hazardous waste. The EPA has recently proposed continuous monitoring specifications and regulatory requirements which expand those established in 40 CFR Part 264, Subpart 0, and the associated permit rules of 40 CFR Part 270. The regulations are intended to provide additional assurance that the operation of hazardous waste incineration facilities does not pose unacceptable risk to public health. In support of these regulations, commercially-available carbon monoxide (CO) and total hydrocarbon (THC) continuous emissions monitors are being evaluated. Laboratory performance tests were conducted to determine characteristics such as calibration drift, linearity, and response time. Carbon dioxide interference in CO measurements and hydrocarbon instrument sensitivity to various hydrocarbons were also investigated. A field evaluation was conducted at a hazardous waste incinerator.