Fate of selected metals and emissions from a sludge/wastepaper gasifier

A study was conducted to quantify a pilot-scale sludge and wastepaper gasification system for its gaseous, particulate and metal emissions. The gasifier produced up to 1800 MJ/hr using a fuel mixture of source-seperated wastepaper and sludge. Emissions varied between 15.1 and 16.5 ppm for CO, 1.39 and 12.7 ppm for hydrocarbons, 98.6 and 121 ppm for NOX, and 55.5 and 105 ppm for SO/sub 2/. Particulate concentrations varied between 35.70 and 192.96 mg/dry standard cubic meter corrected to 12% CO/sub 2/. Metals balance data indicated that Cd, Pb, and Zn increased in concentration (compared to the fuel) in gaseous material leaving the gasifier and that Cu, Cr, and Fe increased in concentration (compared to the fuel) in the char-ashes leaving the gasifier. The particulate emissions in the burned gas from the gasifier were less than the allowable limits for solid-waste incineration.