Distribution of halogenated phenols including mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols in municipal waste incineration flue gas

Incineration of municipal waste yields a variety of halogenated phenols including chlorinated, brominated and mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols in raw and stack gas. A total of 14 chlorinated, 3 brominated and 31 mixed brominated and chlorinated phenols could be characterized by high resolution gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS). A significant molar fraction of halogenated phenols in raw and stack gas was found to be monobrominated (12% and 8%) and dibrominated (2% and 1%). The monitored fraction of polyhalogenated phenols can be characterized with an elemental composition of C 6H 2.6Br 0.2Cl 3.2O in raw and C 6H 2.5Br 0.1Cl 3.4O in stack gas.