Trace metal fate in a rotary-kiln incinerator with an ionizing wet scrubber

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6877540

Waterland, L R; Fournier, D J; Lee, J W; Carroll, G J

A series of pilot-scale incineration tests was performed at EPA's Incineration Research Facility (IRF) in Jefferson, Arkansas, to evaluate the fate of trace metals fed to a rotary kiln incinerator equipped with an ionizing wet scrubber (IWS) for particulate and acid gas control. Test variables were kiln temperature, ranging from 816 to 927 C (1500 to 1700 F); afterburner temperature, ranging from 982 to 1204 C (1800 to 2200 F); and feed chlorine content, ranging from 0 to 8 percent. The test program evaluated the fate of five hazardous constituent trace metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, and lead) and four nonhazardous constituent trace metals (bismuth, copper, magnesium, and strontium). The test results indicate that cadmium and bismuth were relatively volatile, with an average of less than 40 percent discharged with the kiln ash. Arsenic, barium, chromium, copper, lead, magnesium, and strontium were relatively nonvolatile, with an average of greater than 80 percent discharged with the kiln ash. Observed relative metal volatilities generally agreed with the volatilities predicted based on vapor pressure/temperature relationships, with the exception of arsenic which was much less volatile than predicted. The volatility of cadmium, bismuth, and lead increased as kiln temperature was increased; the discharge distributions of the remaining metals were not significantly affected by changes in kiln temperature. Apparent scrubber collection efficiencies for the metals averaged 22 to 71 percent, and were generally higher for the less volatile metals. The overall average metal collection efficiency was 43 percent.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Risk Reduction Engineering Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6877540
• Report Number(s): PB-90-246174/XAB; CNN: EPA-68-C9-0038
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AFTERBURNERS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ARSENIC
BARIUM
BISMUTH
CADMIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMIUM
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONTROL
COPPER
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
INCINERATORS
LEAD
MAGNESIUM
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATERIALS RECOVERY
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PILOT PLANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SCRUBBERS
SEMIMETALS
STRONTIUM
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TESTING
TRACE AMOUNTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VOLATILITY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING