Fundamental aspects of dioxin (PCDD) and furan (PCDF) from combustion

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7019875

Altwicker, E ^[1]

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1. Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)

Formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) was investigated in a spouted bed combustor and in a low temperature fly ash reactor using plausible precursors. Combustion of chlorinated benzenes and chlorinated phenols yielded measurable quantities comparable in some instances to those observed in incinerators of PCDD/F as well as of many chlorinated benzene (CB) and chlorinated phenol (CP) isomers. In the absence of fly ash, the dominant PCDD appears to be OCDD (octa-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) favoring a gas phase mechanism. However, there is also evidence that the tetra-through-octa congeners of PCDD and PCDF were formed from the combustion of 1,2-dichlorobenzene. If this finding can be confirmed, it would agree with initial modeling results. Extensive work was done to establish the baseline performance of the combustor. A few experiments with a solid fuel, RDF (refuse-derived fuel) showed that PCDD/F could be readily formed; 1,2-dichlorobenzene and RDF produced similar distribution of chlorobenzene isomers. Separate studies in a fly ash reactor indicated that such diverse reactants as carbon and 1,2-dichlorobenzene can be precursors. When combustion products were passed over fly ash at low temperatures ({approximately}300 {degrees}C), PCDD and PCDF's were also found. Modeling studies showed that drastic adjustments in model parameters were required to reconcile laboratory and incinerator findings.

• Research Organization: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany, NY (United States); Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: NYSERDA; New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7019875
• Report Number(s): NYSERDA-92-3; ON: TI92040380
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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