Comparison of organic emissions from laboratory and full-scale thermal degradation of sewage sludge

Journal Article · · Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1089/hwm.1991.8.201· OSTI ID:5250637

Tirey, D A; Striebich, R C; Dellinger, B ^[1]; Bostian, H E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Dayton, OH (United States)
2. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

Samples of sewage sludge burned at one fluidized-bed and three multiple-hearth incinerators were subjected to laboratory flow reactor thermal decomposition testing in both pyrolytic and oxidative atmospheres. The time/temperature conditions of the laboratory testing were established to simulate as closely as possible full-scale incineration conditions so that a direct comparison of results could be made. The laboratory test results indicated that biomass decomposition products, not toxic industrial contaminants, comprised the majority of the emissions. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, acrylonitrile, and acetonitrile were consistently the most environmentally significant products of thermal degradation. Comparison of the results from this study with those obtained in field tests was complicated by an apparent loss of volatile chlorocarbons from the sludge samples received for laboratory testing. However, qualitative comparison of emission factors derived from lab and field results for those compounds observed in both studies, showed reasonably good correlation for the pyrolysis testing. Results suggested that the upper stages of multiple-hearth units may vaporize many volatile components of the sludge before they enter the combustion stages of the incinerator and thus represent a direct source of introduction of pollutants into the atmosphere.

• OSTI ID: 5250637
• Journal Information: Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States), Journal Name: Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Materials; (United States) Vol. 8:3; ISSN 0882-5696; ISSN HWHME
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
095000* -- Biomass Fuels-- Environmental Aspects-- (1990-)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACETONITRILE
ACRYLONITRILE
AIR POLLUTION
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
EMISSION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
NITRILES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS
SEWAGE
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SLUDGES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TOLUENE
TOXIC MATERIALS
WASTES