Influence of Variation in Combustion Conditions on the Primary Formation of Chlorinated Organic Micropollutants during Municipal Solid Waste Combustion

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of variation in combustion conditions on the primary formation of organic micropollutants (OMPs). The flue gas samples were taken at a relatively high flue gas temperature (650 °C), to enable mechanistic studies on the high temperature formation (primary formation). Eleven experiments were performed in a laboratory scale fluidized bed reactor fed with an artificial municipal solid waste (MSW). The samples were analyzed for mono- to octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDDs/Fs), tri- to decachlorinated biphenyls (CBs), di- to hexachlorinated benzenes (CBzs), and di- to pentachlorinated phenols (CPhs). In addition to chlorinated OMPs, nonchlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD), dibenzofuran (DF), and biphenyl (BP) were analyzed. The experiments show that variations in the CE influence the degree of chlorination of the organic micropollutants. A correlation between low CE and formation of non- and low-chlorinated OMPs was seen and a distinct relationship of higher chlorinated homologues and efficient combustion condition. Thus, the DiCDFs and DiCBzs are formed during low combustion efficiency (CE), while the PeCDF and PeCBzs formation take place at higher CE. The distribution between primary and secondary air is important for the formation of higher CDD/Fs and CBzs. The primary formation of CDDs and CDFs is through different mechanisms. The CDDs are mainly formed by condensation of CPhs, while the CDFs are formed through a non- or a low-chlorinated precursor followed by further chlorination reactions.