Effect of combustion temperature on the atmospheric stability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans
- Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States). Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Atmospheric emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs and PCDFs) are likely to increase in the future due to an increase in municipal and hazardous waste incineration. There is little information regarding the atmospheric stability of PCDDs and PCDFs. In this study PCDDs and PCDFs were generated from the combustion of a mixture of pentachlorophenol polyvinyl chloride pipe shavings, and wood chips treated with pentachlorophenol. These emissions were injected into outdoor Teflon film chambers and aged in sunlight under typical atmospheric conditions. Incineration experiments were conducted using low temperature combustion (400--470 C range) and high temperature combustion (670--800 C range). Concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were determined over time by collecting both particulate and vapor phase samples. These compounds were found to exist primarily in the particulate phase. Based on previous results with polybrominated dioxins and furans, the authors expect particulate phase PCDDs and PCDF to slowly degrade over periods of hours in the low temperature experiments. However, in high temperature experiments, they expect particulate phase PCDD and PCDF emissions to be stable. Differences in the morphology and chemical composition of the combustion particles generated can explain the differences in the Atmospheric stability of particle associated organics produced from the low temperature and high temperature experiments.
- OSTI ID:
- 197493
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9405167--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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