Effects of Transient Combustion Conditions on the Formation of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Dibenzofurans, and Benzenes, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Municipal Solid Waste Incineration

Abstract This study investigated the effects of transient combustion conditions on formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) along the postcombustion zone. Polychlorinated benzenes (PCBz) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were also studied. The study was conducted in a laboratory fluidized-bed reactor fed with an artificial municipal solid waste (MSW) under controllable but realistic combustion conditions. PCDD/Fs, PCBz, and PAHs were monitored under normal, transient, and posttransient combustion conditions and simultaneously sampled at three different sampling points/temperatures (400°C, 300°C, and 200°C). Substantially higher PCDD/F, PCBz, and PAH concentrations were found during transient combustion than during normal combustion. Elevated concentrations were found to decrease with time. PCDD/F concentrations were similar at all points during normal and transient combustion conditions, but were found in higher concentrations at 200°C than 40...